tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-367019700923216960.post6887325467495197208..comments2024-01-17T13:19:24.071-06:00Comments on Salvation And Survival: Mark 7:13Pam Kohlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00678673505358164380noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-367019700923216960.post-60623798175977085942017-02-26T19:58:05.391-06:002017-02-26T19:58:05.391-06:00Bill, what a powerful testimony! And I think at th...Bill, what a powerful testimony! And I think at the heart of what you have shared is this fact: to draw closer to Him, you must ask questions of your own faith to know EXACTLY what you believe and why -- always using Scripture as your source and the Holy Spirit as your guide and counselor. Thank you for giving a loving and honest portrayal of your own journey, and encouragement for all of us to continue to seek YHWH. And you are correct, although many may choose to cling to the false traditions of their faith, we need to pray that they will answer the Father's call to their hearts. Bless you for sharing this wise counsel!Pam Kohlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00678673505358164380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-367019700923216960.post-5353878397958126512017-02-26T13:30:28.282-06:002017-02-26T13:30:28.282-06:00Once again, something for us all to contemplate. A...Once again, something for us all to contemplate. About four years ago, I came across a website that had posted a video series entitled 'Audit Your Faith'. I am an older man who was born and raised in a home where the Bible was lived and taught by parents who believed it. As a young child we had to memorize The 10 Commandments, The 23rd. Psalm, The Beatitudes, the books of the Bible, The Lord's Prayer, the 12 Tribes of Israel, the 12 Apostles, and literally dozens of individual verses. Every evening after dinner we had devotions. As I grew older, I and my sisters and Dad travelled the eastern US as a music ministry, always ending each concert with an altar call. Thousands came forward. As we grew older, we all got married and began having children, eventually ending the travelling. My Dad became a pastor, and one sister spent her life as a full-time Children's Pastor in several large churches. I was on staff at one of the 10 largest churches in US in a non-ministerial function. But I always had nagging doubts, questions without satisfying answers, and a deep yearning to know my Creator better. So I took up the challange of investigating every single aspect of what I believed. What does the Scriptures REALLY say about a rapture, the fourth commandment, is the Torah actually obsolete, is it really not possible to lose your salvation, etc. What was the history of the doctrines I grew up with, the history of the 'Church', who were 'The Church Fathers', how did the various versions of the Bible come to be, everything. You will find the truth of Jer. 16:19 'O יהוה, my strength and my stronghold and my refuge, in the day of distress the gentiles shall come to You from the ends of the earth and say, “Our fathers have inherited only falsehood, futility, and there is no value in them." Jer 16:20 Would a man make mighty ones for himself, which are not mighty ones? Jer 16:21 “Therefore see, I am causing them to know, this time I cause them to know My hand and My might. And they shall know that My Name is יהוה!” (TS98 version)<br />The evil one has spread many, many tares among the wheat. I will tell you that you must spend time in prayer for you will need Holy Spirit discernment to seperate the 'wheat from the chaff'. The broad path is easy to follow, but it's easy to get 'out in the weeds' when you're on narrow one. What you will learn will change your life; you will never be the same as you were. As you begin to share what you've learned, you may find friends and family unwilling to listen to you because very few believers want to really know these things and all the implications. But you will surely find Him when you seek after Him with all your heart. So be kind and gentle; as they are now, you once were. Most will prefer blind allegiance to what they were always taught. When they are ready the Father may call to them to draw closer, just as He has done with you. Billnoreply@blogger.com