From: "Arsene Lupin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> JT: I don't have any methods or schemes - and from what they write neither do the street preachers. They believe they are laying down their lives to
offer you eternal assurance TPW. I still can't figure out what is so fascinating about being pagan. TPW: Methods and schemes they have. Tactics and M.O. they possess by the cartload. From the simple tract right down to the carefully orchastrated "crusades" in so-called "Heathen society". jt: What's wrong with tracts TPW? Chick tracts for instance have a lot of appeal to the young ones since they are in comic book form. When we were overseas with the USN and I was not serving the Lord, the Christians used to hand them out in front of the NEX and I read some of them. You don't have to read them but someone pays to print them and hand them out and they are loaded with scripture. As for society - God calls it heathen/pagan so who am I to argue. You don't have to look far to see it. Materialism, sexual immorality, sports and race car obsession, fantasy lust, pornography and violence in the media and on and on. tpw: In fact the most irritating one is what some would compare to a pushy salesperson, who tries to sell you a product that you have either no interest in or no need for. The even more clueless then wonder why there is so much backlash towards them. jt: Hey, so far as I know we still live in a free country. I would just walk away and let them talk into the air if I didn't want to hear it. I don't attend homosexual rallies or pagan meetings either. tpw: As for me being Pagan, it has nothing to do with "fascination". If you can't figure it out, that's fine, I don't expect you too, as it's spirituality varies on the individual. But for me, it's a connection to my true past, not the one that many would have me believe, it's also part of a spiritual tip of the hat to all Gods that are existant, since to me all Gods exist (Including yours) jt: I don't deny there are spirits who claim to be gods but only one true God in the heavens. I don't try to figure out people's motives and that's why I'm asking you. Our God says that if people do not love the truth He will send them strong delusion that they might believe the lie. tpw: You see, I will never call your God or anyone's God false. It's a big universe, and it's possibilities numerous. jt: Appears big to us but not to the Creator of same who said to Job: "Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge and where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare it if you have understanding" (Job 38:1-4) TPW: I would never sneer at what someone believes unless it would make them think it makes them better than the rest. While the true believer -regardless of faith- remains humble, he or she may be surrounded by 20-30 people who are spiritually full of it! jt: I'm not sure what you see as humble TPW; I call what Jesus did for us in sacrificing himself on a cross the most humble of all and yet He did not shrink back from declaring God's Word to a proud and perverse people. tpw: Another aspect of my being Pagan that I like is the fact that I never feel alone. Since alot of us listen to the rhythm of the earth, we know that life abounds and we can just feel it's slow cycle around us. We also realise how we are a mere mote in it and that very fact is humbling to the one who does pay attention. jt: I'm never alone either TPW because I have a friend who sticks closer than any brother. I appreciate the creation also and find it a great comfort to know that by the grace of God I will be able to stand in that day when the heavens and the earth are cleansed by fire and all that remains will be holy. tpw: And from a supernatural view, I feel my own strenght. This is what disconcerts me at times from those "witnessing" to me half the time. They feel strongly about their belief, but the minute I object or explain to them that I have no need of their way, I sense some kind of insecurity creeping in, as If I took something away. jt: I don't doubt that you probably have some preternatural strength as Pharoahs wizards did everything Moses did until it came to the gnats but ultimately Pharoahs armies were drowned and God's people triumphed. It may be the rejection, possibly some of them are dealing with their own issues but God will cause them to overcome. tpw: Depending on the individual I will either let them rot, or reassure them that they shouldn't be ashamed of the path they have chosen. I do keep forgetting that I can shake one's faith rather soundly If I am not careful. jt: I find the above to be a very arrogant statement, delusional in fact. What makes you think you have the last say in the natural life of a believer or their spiritual life? The Lord Jesus Christ knows those who are His and you are no match for Him. In that day the god you serve will cringe - he will run and hide and you will be left naked & powerless at the mercy of the one you have scorned. tpw: And there is the secrecy of our ways. It amuses me how some of you expose your most private thoughts and sometimes frailties when speaking to me of such things. jt: We are free to do that TPW because we don't stand in our own strength as you try to. I know this will probably go right past you - but His strength is made perfect in our weakness. It is good for us to be honest and confess our faults one to another.. and since you're on the list right now you are privy to these confessions. However, this does not mean we are fair game. You tackle us and you deal with the One we serve. tpw: To me, Prayer or chant should be done in private, away from prying eyes and ears. Those are private things and so no one should know of them except you and the divinity you affiliate yourself with. jt: This is true for us as well, surely you don't think we let it ALL hang out do you? tpw: And if you want to give yourself a much simpler idea of what it's like to be Pagan, here's what you can do, and it won't compromise your faith one bit. Go to a coffee shop, order yourself a gourmet coffee, with a small pastry, and gaze upon the world as it passes you by and just look at the whole world, see the good and the bad interacting, the visible and the invisible going about their way and then savour the moment by sipping that coffee when it's not too hot but definitly not too cold and breathe deeply. Then take a bite out of that pastry. That will give you an idea of what it's like to me, to exist as a Pagan. jt: I've done that TPW and am aware that "the whole world lieth in the evil one" but God has a people, remnant though they may be. The last time he destroyed the known world only 8 people escaped and when He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah only Lot and his family escaped. I don't know how many will make it this time. Jesus said it will be as in the days of Noah with people buying and selling, marrying and giving in marriage - just business as usual, like the coffee shop scenario. You can thank the street preachers for warning you - so that when it does happen the next time you will be without excuse. Your condition before the God of the Universe will be your own choice. In the hope that you will change your mind and choose the grace and peace offered to save you from the wrath of God. Judy ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
