Larry N Moore

:) Yeah, but . . . I imagine the students didn't care. They still made the grade.

The only thing a mog is entitled to is esteem for the labor they do in the Word. Any labor they do which is not is not to be esteemed. It's scary that some/many can't see the difference. Scary, but not surprising.

It's amazing how well a placebo will work in some cases. :) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placebo_effect

:unsure: I'm not sure what for but, you're welcome Dan.

Do you remember the book "Angels of Light"? I think it was the book that detailed what devil spirit was involved in the behavior of people. Interesting book but, anyone reading it could quite easily forget that it takes the manifestation of discerning of spirits to determine the presence or non-presence of spirits and if present the identity of the spirit. It became a case where people were analyzing behavior and via sense knowledge determining the type of spirit. I suppose with such knowledge none of us really needed the manifestation of discerning of spirits. Some people couldn't handle reading that book because they started looking at themselves and wonder if they were possessed. Like I said -- interesting book -- but devoid of authority. If we can use a book's info to determine what devil spirit is present in an individual then why would God give us the ability to operate the manifestation of discerning of spirits? I remember an occasion where a TC brought to fellowship someone who scared the crap outta everyone. He was a bit weird. The TC came to me a little while after the fellowship and asked if I would take the man home. Everyone else (he said) was afraid to get into a car with the man because they thought he was devil spirit possessed. I said sure -- no problem. I had a pretty good conversation with him on the way home. He was polite and thanked me for the ride home. I think their fear was a result of all this sense-knowledge info and definitely a sign of their lack of trust in God. So tell me -- in their case -- who was glorified -- God or the Devil?

You think so? I disagree. If someone says that having excelling sessions is wrong I think it's incumbent upon that person to cite the scripture that prohibits it. Otherwise you're instituting a "law" that doesn't exist. And only those who have a legalistic mind will do that. Now I can cite you a verse that supports my pov but I'm sure that too will be viewed as me privately interpreting the scriptures. So why waste time? Perhaps. I suppose they didn't understand the significance of the record of the man that was ostracized after Jesus healed him of his blindness. For that matter I suppose they didn't understand a lot of what the scriptures have to say on love. I've seen people who appeared to be struggling with the manifestations -- some would freeze up and not finish what they started. I'd say such people needed to be "work[ed] with" but that doesn't necessarily mean you had to have an excelling session. Maybe if people spent more time asking God, instead of leaders, what they should do more people would have been helped to overcome their fear or doubts. Yep.

"Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?" I don't see anything in the above scripture that prohibits you from speaking in tongues in an excelling session. In fact imo it implies Paul could have ". . . come unto you speaking in tongues . . . ." The point isn't that one couldn't speak in tongues among other believers but rather what is the profit. Some people -- myself for one -- profited from excelling sessions. All of this talk about excelling sessions being wrong seems to be a product of legalism (and I don't recall anyone being forced to participate -- in fact I remember one incident where someone chose not to and they didn't). If the Bible doesn't say you can't do it then how can you say it's wrong?

Need, not greed my friend. ;)

Quite right, Mr. Squirrel. I wonder though -- How many college students would continue their education if they hit the lottery jackpot. I also wonder how many college students working towards a certain degree -- like in education -- give up on finding a job in that field and go to work for Walmart. ;)

Excellent points socks! Excellent indeed. Your post brought to mind how many in today's society have fallen victims of the instant gratification syndrome. We want it NOW! And if they (the victims) don't get it now they simply give up and conclude that it's not available.

Okay. I thought of another incident that might fit the bill. About 12 yrs ago, the company I work for was planning to shut down one of the five plants it operates. So I prayed about it. Initially I asked God to intervene to prevent the plant I worked in from being chosen for shutdown. Afterwards, I got to thinking about it. What if there was another believer asking God that the plant he worked at wouldn't be shutdown? That would present a problem. How could God answer my prayer and not the other's if we were both believing for the same thing? So I changed my prayer. I asked God to intervene to prevent any of the plants from shutting down. But I added one caveat. I said that if that's not possible then let it be mine. I told Him I believe that even if I lost my job He was still my sufficiency and I'll get another job. The company suddenly changed it's mind due to a great influx of new business. So I kept my job and if there was another believer praying that his plant wouldn't be shutdown kept his as well. Coincidence? Could be. But I believe otherwise. What was available wasn't my job at that plant. What was available was any job that would meet my financial needs. How to receive it -- trusting God to come through.

Establishes and maintains a positive attitude. Yep. makes life meaningfull Yep. Overcomes worry and fear Yep, taught me the keys to do so. Promotes prosperity and health Yep. Doesn't guarantee it though. Explains apparent bible contradictions Yep. It explained some but not all. But then again the class wasn't meant to teach on all the scriptures from Genesis 1:1 through Revelations 22:21 Developes more harmony in the home I wasn't married at that time but I've applied the principles from it when I did and yep. Enables you to seperate truth from error Yep. Disciplines the mind by believing Yep. Teaches how to pray effectively. Yep.

*sigh* "Green Card" I guess I'm really going to have to look at that thing again and see if I can come up with anything. BTW socks -- great post.

:blink:

Larry takes a moment to let the ringing in his ears to subside . . . . :) Let me see if I understand you correctly. Are you saying that you only want anecdotes and no comments or discussion about them?

Hey! If Dan wants to bring to the thread non-related pictures and whatnot I'm fine with that. ;)

Indeed! Many rockers roots/influence was Blues. :) Oh yeah, the "Green Card." I was wondering about that myself when I noticed the direction Dan was taking the thread in. ;)

Groucho you're not required to believe it but you can at least consider it and let me know if you think that what others tell you doesn't have a psychological effect on what you believe. And if you believe a certain thing -- like you might be dead at such and such a time if you will do anything which might just bring it to pass. Think about it a bit (and maybe do a little googling on the subject of psychological effects pertaining to health).

Well, if you haven't seen anything I guess that means you haven't seen anything. Yet, I don't know how you can believe those who claim they are/have been healed are lying to themselves. Bolshevik, if you're agnostic or atheist it doesn't matter to me. Do you believe this: God in the beginning . . . Do you believe God created all that we see?

I always thought that song was a bit sexist and derogatory towards women. Like they were sex-objects instead of people. So, no, I don't think that was a great song. :)

Led Zeppelin! Weren't they the ones who sang "Stairway to Heaven"? http://www.led-zeppelin.com/EMl4.html Stairway To Heaven (Page/Plant) There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold And she's buying a stairway to heaven. When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed With a word she can get what she came for. Ooh, ooh, and she's buying a stairway to heaven. There's a sign on the wall but she wants to be sure 'Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings. In a tree by the brook, there's a songbird who sings, Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven. Ooh, it makes me wonder, Ooh, it makes me wonder. There's a feeling I get when I look to the west, And my spirit is crying for leaving. In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees, And the voices of those who stand looking. Ooh, it makes me wonder, Ooh, it really makes me wonder. And it's whispered that soon if we all call the tune Then the piper will lead us to reason. And a new day will dawn for those who stand long And the forests will echo with laughter. If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now, It's just a spring clean for the May queen. Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run There's still time to change the road you're on. And it makes me wonder. Your head is humming and it won't go, in case you don't know, The piper's calling you to join him, Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, and did you know Your stairway lies on the whispering wind. And as we wind on down the road Our shadows taller than our soul. There walks a lady we all know Who shines white light and wants to show How everything still turns to gold. And if you listen very hard The tune will come to you at last. When all are one and one is all To be a rock and not to roll. And she's buying a stairway to heaven. Great song!

Ok waysider -- that seems reasonable. I wouldn't be surprised though if some good soul doesn't bring up what the Bible says on the subject and when that happens you're moving into the field of theology. Anyways -- it's a good topic. I hope you get some good responses.

Well, I don't know who originally taught it but I do know it was something I taught. I just don't remember the specifics these days. I remember people thinking that devil spirits were like hiding behind every bush or back-alley and talked so much about that that my thinking and speech was -- Look here folks, shouldn't you be speaking about the power of God instead of the power of devil spirits so much?

Considering the fact that there are records in the Bible of people living way past 100, 200, or more years -- it might be a negative confession. But given the fact that it's stated by others that you only have so many years to live -- what's the average age for a woman these days? -- it might just be the case that she's believing what others tell her her life-expectancy should be and she thinks she's outlived that statistic by way too many years.

I vaguely recall someone teaching (in TWI) that when we speak too much about devil spirits (and their power) we glorify the Devil instead of glorifying God's power over the devil spirit realm. Anyone else recall hearing a teaching along this line?