if you cannot build church in one area then after that you give money to authority so they approve the church being permitted. is that a bribe or not?

Late 30s. Feel very depress, man.

I know I put some idols in my life, finding a wife. Opportunities to find a life partner is far and few in between. When my relationship with a christian just failed, I am just totally rudderless. What should I do?

Its just this, I seem not to have the ability to make people interested in me. Each time I meet up a potential suitor, she always complain, she doesn't feel anything for me.

I concur.

At the wedding in Cana, the highest enjoyment of man can have is signified by the wedding. Yet, the "wine" ran out.

All marriages will come to this stage: the wine ran out ........

leonhart88, if you ask UW... the answer is no.

If you ask me, i throw your question back to HS.

My teaching is simple: Ask Holy Spirit.

bible say no bribe.
bible say also everything is permissible.

If 1 verse against another verse, how to resolve ? eating more fruit of good / evil ? or ask HS, the author of the bible ?

simple right ?

bible oso say everything is permissible. isn't it good that bible support both our arguments ? therefore don't be too smart lah UW... ask HS, the author of the bible . Which verse to use for a given scenarios.

you are not humble you know... arrogant, and don't care about what HS think... just simply don't want to accept HS is far smarter than you.

12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”b 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.c

18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

23“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”f

27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. 29I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

I know. But my sinful self want to find life partner.

Actually it is possible to find God and life partner at same time?

Yesterday I read the bible, still had sleepless nights.

I go to church sit alone also, my mind wander off, thinking about her, the voice of the sermon get drown out by my mind.

unfortunately, many churches practice this even big one. why? their purpose to make all people know the good news and they want to set new church easily rather than doing the hassle. however, they will say it's smart political move everyone will be happy. the authority got money, we can set up church easily.
why am I asking this? because one pastor just did this

Guys, I know christians are more focused on church work and debate. But I think I am suffering from depression or anxiety attacks from my break up. I am thinking of going to a psychiatrist, is it a good idea? I know drugs will temporary take away the chemical effects but in long term would it still be there?

I am also afraid of health impacts. I don't want to end up like Heath Ledger died in his sleep of overdose.

What is the church standing on taking anti depressants?

My suffering is due to the physical nature less...because of problems.

who are they?

I have no bitterness against my ex gf. I just did not contact her anymore, because i know she wants to avoid me. But if she does send a message to me, I just be nice but no point continuing because I know she won't want to get any closer to me.

I think I have problem forgiving myself for screwing up the whole relationship not noticing that it was not getting well.

I tried to meditate on good things but going to office, my heart feels like sinking, I can't sleep, lost apetite to eat and even can't concentrate.

I know nick fujivic, I could not attend his talk back then, they were charging like RM100 per head? Can't recall. I know there r people more unfortunately than me. But i am in my late 30s, and the enemy is attacking me, because I am still awkward and single.

thanks for your help.

I needed that. But I hope they are not like befrienders. Last time I had my 1st break up, the befrienders only listen and listen and did not say any solution. I ask them questions, they only listen.

I hope this one not like that.

I think i try telephone first. I don't thinnk any senior person around at night?

why is it her lost? She's much younger than me.

Yes I must forgive myself too. True, Amen.

what does pehkay and UW knows about spiritual warfare ? this is not seminary / hermeneutics things that can be resolved by "context is king"... you two needs to undergo a lot of mindset change before can understand more fyi...

Is what I went through considered spiritual warfare.

Precisely, the enemy knows this is my biggest weakness, my yearning to start a relationship.

When I read about Abraham, yearning to start the seed of God's people, he trusted God all the way, even though Sarai was barren. Their faith was answered when Sarai was pregnant at 80 ! Could the miracle of Abraham and Sarai be applicable to me?

My ex gf question my capability to start a family due to my age. Really hit my self esteem, I wonder why a christian would do this to me? But anyway I have no ill feelings towards her.

Pray that I shall not be attack, pray that I shall stand up to the the enemy and prevail. Pray I will overcome and become stronger and God will answer my prayers for a life partner, as what Jeremiah 29:11 says.

Guys, a question has been bugging me, and I think it would be best to ask you experts in here.. Given a scenario as below:

Let's say a marriage between a Buddhist/Agnostic guy and a Christian girl would take place.

The guy is willing to have a ceremony in the church as it is the desire of the girl (dream wedding for her consists of blessings by pastor, witnessed by family and friends, and if possible in a beautiful church). *Side note: In Malaysian society a guy has the tendency to feel the desire to have the future spouse adopt his religion, although this can be relaxed dependent on how liberal the guy is.

The guy is agreeable to this setting because, besides the fact that he is desirous to have the girl's wish come true, he also feels that all religions are sacred and come from one source, just expressed differently through various civilizations and cultures. This point of view would be similar to the Bahai faith if you have heard of it.

As the guy feels that blessings and prayers, regardless of any setting, is sacred, good, and precious, he is desirous of joining in and whole-hardheartedly praying together with the girl in the church jointly with all other Christians present, for that occasion, and for the blessings and happiness of their marriage. The guy respects, values, and treasures all blessings and prayers, especially more so when it involves this momentous occasion of marriage between them both.

That said, the guy, due to his culture and upbringing, is also desirous of having second ceremony in a temple together with his parents and extended family members, blessed by monks and a prayer ceremony. The girl agrees to be present. However, she opines that she shall just be a silent observer to whatever prayer proceedings that take place. Meaning, she won't join in recitals of prayers, or make incense offerings etc.

Now comes the problem. The guy wishes her to join in the prayers whole hardheartedly too, otherwise why be present at all? He also opines that if he was willing to wholeheartedly do the same in the church, why would the girl not be willing to reciprocate, for him? To him, a lack of reciprocity, would hint at a slight degree of selfishness and prioritizing him less than another entity.

To write it in a slightly different way for added clarity:

The guy feels that any prayer is important, and wants equal commitment from both parties to commit towards. Therefore if the girl should desire a church ceremony and blessing, he would love to pray together.

However, the girl however feels that, due to Christian belief, she shall not engage in any other from of prayers. The guy feels that this would be akin to pooh-poohing his beliefs, since to actively refrain would be synonymous of feeling that it is wrong. Thus he feels that he can also do the same if there is no reciprocity, aka feel that Christian prayers and blessings are wrong, and refrain from doing so. But of course, he would never dream of doing such a thing, as he treasures their relationship. Also, he feels that, if either him or the girl would feel that either prayer is wrong, it is akin to defiling the marriage ceremony.

Thus if the above two prayer settings would occur, both parties would just be syok sendiri praying by him/herself, at the same time carrying the somewhat negative thoughts of actively refraining from the other parties' wrong practices, and not as a loving couple that prays together for gratitude happiness.

Any ways of compromising for them both?

The it would be the mindset of:

refraining because it is wrong = thus the ceremony is wrong = thus the husband is wrong = thus there is no point in having such a ceremony ?

If it is that difficult, perhaps it might be easier to insist on adhering to the cultural practice of adhering to the husband's religion. Wonder if that would work?

And yes, I understand. It is human nature to do so, and I would try to think positively and admire her commitment. Yet at the same time feeling slighted.

Usually what's the best way to approach these topics, and how to get both parties to come to an agreement?

Yes that is a valid point, perhaps the marriage will never come to be?

Do you think that there are very devoted Christians that have a slightly different interpretation of the bible than you? In the sense of not seeing Christianity as the only right religion in the world and others are wrong, but of equal grounds to others? But at the same time are fully devoted to Christianity?

Well you see, practitioners of Islam may claim so too. So might other religions. So it seems the whole world is at odds with each other.

But aren't there liberal Christians (whom are highly knowledgeable with the scripture), but at the same time holding the view of religious pluralism (other religions are right too in their own context), as opposed to exclusivism (all others are wrong)? I mean, if you have come across such people could you kindly point me to them? I could perhaps learn a thing or two from them too.

Is it because the Devil is constantly trying to tell us we are not forgiven by God due to our past sins?

Is it because we are constantly relying upon our own strength instead of God's strength?

After I repented, I read this verse.

1 John 3:8–9

8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.

From there, I have attended church and cg, removed my tattoos and meet new church friends.

But we always stumbled because of our sins. So then we need to rely upon God's grace.

Before adopting a religion, a baby is firstly pure.

Why insert into its mind divisive beliefs that stands to promote a sense of superiority over others (I'm right and you're wrong)?  I mean, if I were to attempt to reconstruct the interpretations, I would write it as: you must have utmost devotion and faith in me. And stop at that. Wouldn't include the point on others are wrong.

I know, given the larger context, this point is lacking and may be fallible. Just stating a preference, or rant. Thanks for your explanations thus far, have given me a better insight into her mind.