Liv42Day

Groucho- Yes He created us unto good works. But that doesn't mean we go though life doing the work that is NOT TO BE well-pleasing to Him, just because we already are. The way I read VPW's statement is that if we just love HIM first, it doesn't matter if we do anything else because we are already well-pleasing. I do believe God should come first. But I don't believe you can do all matter of bad works or no works and still BE well-pleasing.

For me it's simple. Maybe I simplify it too much but I like to live in the present. I enjoy looking back at memories and learning from my past experiences. If you haven't lived through it you can't learn from it. And what good are memories if we are not supposed to think back on them and learn from them. God gave us a brain and the ability to remember. So use it. But I don't believe in dwelling on it so much that your forget you living in present day not the past.

I was in the 1st grade when my parents became involved in TWI and about 13 or 14 when we left. So I never really went to a church. I have had a hard time with this myself since I didn't "grow up in a church". But I have recently been attending a Church of God. A friend introduced me to the church and I've only been a few times. I'm not 100% sure what the church as a whole believes. But my friend does believe that Jesus Christ is not God and that the dead are not alive now. But she also went to a Christian school and was taught the Bible on a daily basis. I have found that she has a great knowledge of the Bible. More that any other person I have meet outside of TWI. But I also question things that were taught in TWI. But the one thing that TWI did teach me was how to research the Bible. I don't think that was wrong teaching since it's just like doing research in school. So if there is something I question either in church or by TWI I look for myself, toss what I disagree with and keep going. I have missed the fellowshipping and enjoy going to church even if I don't agree with everything. God knows my heart and my knowledge and he is the only one I have to answer to. My advise is to attend a church your friends might attend, one you feel comfortable in and enjoy the fellowship. If you find it's way out there, keep trying until you find one that you feel comfortable in. You can visit without being a member. You can start visiting your local church's until you find the right one.

doojable That was the case wasn't it................... :)

The secret of a holy life is not the labor we do, but just to love Him first and foremost. Then the work we do is not to be well-pleasing to Him, but because we already are. This is the part that got me. Doesn't II Thessalonians 3:10 say that if any not work, neither should he eat. And I Corinthians 3:8 says Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. With that...Can someone tell me how the work we do is not to be well-pleasing to Him, but because we already are? I think the Bible speaks for itself. The one thing I am thankful for is the TWI taught me how to research. It comes in handy when you read crap like that.