₦airaland Forum

But what is the motive and usefulness of critisizing a belief that affects no one but the individual in question? If I believe Mary was a virgin when she had Jesus, of what impact does that have on anyone but me? Especially if I am a contributing, functioning member of society, why the need to assault what I believe just because you disagree with it?

Also I don't understand why the word "dogma" has befallen such a fate that it is viewed almost always negatively. Dogma is simply a set of beliefs - usually ones that prescribe attitudes towards moral living. Where's the beef?

Na wa, different strokes for different folks.

I dislike clumps in my egusi. Infact when my mum used to cook it, I'd mash all the lumps down into the soup. Now I make it my own way, just put the crumbs straight into the pot.

and oh, palm oil till I die!

bawomolo:
until he ends up on a scooter.

hehe . . . ya'll see those pictures of his "bruises" after the loss to NO? as if he's the only player that gets hit on the field.

H2O2:
Lol Celtics fans already in panic mode

Carry go jor you think you are safe? Kobe's knees, thumb, back will barely last till the playoffs. If the Cavs get Amare for practically peanuts, the are without question the favorites.

chiogo:
Eeyah, the dunk contest wasn't all that interesting. That's expected though with people like Shannon Brown, wth?

I hear there was speculation of bringing in D-leaugers or And1 guys next year? now that would be dope!

Krayola:
Anger is natural. Whether it is positive or negative does not change that. Also, releasing anger is healthy . . and being healthy is positive.

So, technically, knocking a mother fuka out is healthy if you are angry.    Seduction may be form of provocation. The point isn't about what is felt, but how it is acted on.


But what it seems u are saying is that our natural instincts should not be suppressed as long as they are positive. .  whatever the consequences of acting on these "instincts" are. I think that is ridiculous.

There are benefits to intimacy, and there are benefits to abstinence. The individual must sort it out for him or her self. This your "natural" criterion for how humans should behave is nonsense, IMO, simply because we are rational beings. We are not slaves to instincts. We think things through and make decisions based on our individual values, motives, or whatever.

Like you said intimacy is important for relationships to be healthy so one might want to test drive the goods before a life-long commitment. But that is an individual choice. This "natural" argument u are making doesn't add up, and u seem to just be shifting goal post once an objection is made.

Your argument was that it is a natural urge and should not be suppressed. That has been shown to be ridiculous.

Krayola I am witholding with considerable effort the kudos I was going to lavish on you for this solid response.

 TV, as usual you have provided a full course gourmet meal. Nuthin else need to added.

ogajim:
JeSoul, God bless you my dear sister, I agree wholeheartedly with your post and will not waste my time with this lot. I will keep them in my prayers and hope they see the light some day.

Stay warm!

Thank you my brotha. Funny enough, the title of the thread says "Most Christians Infected with Prosperity Gospel" . . . that truth could not be clearer on this thread and the posters according to the unfortunate persuations of joagbaje. But still, there is hope, I hope.

Obama should meet the Dalai Lama, take pictures making faces and send it to the Chinese authorities.

Instead of them to focus on their numerous human rights issues and crude policies they're whining about who's meeting the Lama.

4 Play:
Today’s Fox News Sunday panel looked at Attorney General Eric Holder’s decision to hold terrorist trials in federal courts rather than military commissions. The discussion quickly shifted to Holder himself, and whether he should be fired. NPR’s Juan Williams argued that Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol and Washington Post columnist Charles Krauthammer were lobbing “unjustified” attacks on Holder since the Bush administration repeatedly tried terrorists in civilian courts.

Krauthammer then cited the case of the failed Christmas Day bombing by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, saying that the Obama administration should have assumed that he “has people who are working with him” because he’s Nigerian:

KRAUTHAMMER: You arrest a guy who’s got a bomb in his underpants. You know, it’s likely he didn’t do it at home in his kitchen. … The guy is Nigerian. You’ve got to assume — you have to assume that he has people who are working with him.

WILLIAMS: Because he’s a Nigerian?

KRAUTHAMMER: Why do you assume otherwise? It makes no sense at all. You capture a terrorist and in almost all of our plots there are groups of terrorists. [, ]

http://thinkprogress.org/2010/01/31/krauthammer-abdul-mutallab/

Hmmm . . . . something fishy

  I don't like the way this story was presented . . . Krau may not actually be saying "he wasn't acting alone because he's Nigerian" but more like "he wasn't acting alone because they usually act in groups".

  I say so for 2 reasons:
1. because transcripts don't always capture properly what a person said and his quote has been edited - that is it's incomplete in the format shown in the story as evidenced by the ". . . " here -

4 Play:
KRAUTHAMMER: You arrest a guy who’s got a bomb in his underpants. You know, it’s likely he didn’t do it at home in his kitchen. [size=20pt]…[/size] The guy is Nigerian. You’ve got to assume — you have to assume that he has people who are working with him.

2. I followed the link to the website and they conveniently did not provide the video for us to watch, but for the other quotes below the video is available. This spells easily to me that they are taking his statement out of context and don't want us to watch the video for ourselves. I'll see if I can find the full video anywhere on youtube.

Deep Sight:
Escapism dear friend.

If it is, then so be it dear sir. Its a christian topic soliciting christian advice. The OP knows its wrong (note we didn't have to explain why to her) and is not here to debate that point.

You have yet to show me why sane people should struggle against the very natural instincts of their sexual hormones.

I define sin as that which runs counter to nature. That which is unnatural.

intimacy IS UNDENIABLY natural.

Thus resisting intimacy is resisting nature.

Thus resisting intimacy is a sin.

But I don't have to show you now? lol. You're not a christian so any "christian" explanation I give you will not fly. I also highlighted the "I" in your response - how Deepsight defines sin differs drasctically from how christians do - and that is okay.

Deep Sight:
What do you define as a sin? ? ?

Does a bare sheet of paper presented as a marriage certificate have any spiritual relevance?

Was there a marriage certificate between Adama and Eve?

Is it nort clear that a couple who are deeply in love with each other and who are committed to each other emotionally and spiritually are already a married couple in the sight of God?

Is your spirituality based on the contents of sheets of paper?

Oga no problem at all The only thing I got is - christians will understand why it is a sin - and I leave it at that.

chic2pimp:
Favre ain't coming back. The Old Hagyoung blood has retired from pro football

We've all seen that movie at least 5 times over the past few years He will come back again and again and again until no team wants him.

chic2pimp:
^^^^^^^^^^ Ahhhhhhh You're back. I thought you took a break so as to procreate little juniors

Lol, procreate for where? the juniors will have to wait for a pretty long time before they make their earth debut

If the Cavs get Amare, other teams might as well wave goodbye to any hopes they had of winning the title.

Well also depending on what the Cavs give up to get him too. I hear Hickson might be sent off too . . . I think his energy alone has contributed greatly to the run the Cavs are on.

estrella:
I'm a young lady who loves God and is trying to walk with him as honestly as I can. I have one problem however; i feel extremely carnal when I am around my fiance! we have been together for over five years now and we are talking about getitng married.We made a vow to keep ourselves till we get married and even imposed a no kissing rule, just hugs. however,we have broken that rule a couple of times and its mostly because we both have mad chemistry.A peck can cause as much damage as a french kiss for both of us.
The thing is,when he isn't around me,Im perfectly fine.I feel like Im making progress with God,I read my bible and Im on a lovely spiritual plane.The minute he comes around,I always have to fight the urge to sleep with him.I think thoughts that shock even me when i see him and it bothers me greatly.I don't feel this way for any other person except him.As a christian, does this make me carnal? does this mean I'm not really born again? Is it wrong for me to want him the  way I do? please I need the advice of mature christians,

It doesn't make you a carnal christian, it makes you human. For you to feel attracted to your partner is to be expected, infact if you weren't that would be a problem. You are not the first and will not be the last christian to struggle with intimacy with a partner whom you're not married to.

  That being said, there's a reason sexual sin is the only sin we're commanded to "flee" from because of how complicated it is and how it can affect your life - spiritual, physical and sexual. And there are reasons we're told to abstain until marriage, and if you believe the bible as a christian, you understand that is it for your own good to do that - both of you. I encourage you to limit the opportunities for things to happen, and discuss openly with him about it - if you're both serious about getting married that is (if not then what are you doing with him?). And finally pray, and ask God to help you both in the way you should go. Godbless!

Rikky and Biina,

I want to extend my sincere apologies for not being here to lend a shoulder during the most darkest time in Colt recent history. It was neither planned nor intended. I hope the healing process has begun in earnest. Remember we are all here for you


So who wants to bet on how long it'll take Favre to make a decision this time?

Chiogo, my dear, I am here o jare 
  I fell asleep on saturday at the start of the dunk contest . . . from what I gather it was a funeral lol. Also missed the all-star game . . .  oh well . . .

 

bawomolo:
nail in the celtics coffin, amare could be going to the Cavs.
Amare and Shaq, that frontcourt would destroy anyone besides the lakers.

He who delights in the dispersion and spreading of bad news will himself be the recipient of the like, 10 fold - NBA 31:1    Celtics should do and trade Ray Allen now, we need a major energy infusion if we're to hope to do anything this year.

tachi:
well, what i have deduced for myself is that its all towards accountability. anyways, id simply say u should do as the spirit leads. as simple as that. if you have a disquiet about it, then u should heed it. and vice versa.

Now, as i said earlier, these are not based on any biblical standards(at least. none that i know of).

Thanks for pointing that out my sister. This is the problem I think, that when directives are not based on the bible, people go about making it up as they go along, leading to confusion and a lot of unbiblical practices going on.

  I am certainly for accountability within the body . . . but when it comes to intimate issues of the heart that don't fall under the pastors jurisdiction so to speak, I really do not see the need or justification for a man to subject himself to the "pastor" to "seek God's face" and the "lady's approval" "on his behalf.

  Like you said, let the spirit lead, I agree 100%. A man should be seeking only God's face concerning any issue, not imploring the "man of God" to act on his behalf. I know if any pastor, or anyone for the matter approached me on someone else's behalf, I would think the man a misguided, indoctrinated wimp of monumental proportions.

July, this is a very well thought-out and written piece, I commend you highly. I'm only saddened that those of us that need to heed these words will most certainly be deaf to them.

Tachi,

tachi:
ok, i have enquired about this in the past and these are some of the reasons i was given for this

1) in the case that the lady in question already has other people in church seeking her hand, the pastor would be in the know and would be better able to advise u. and her.

Can't the lady speak for herself? Why should the pastor "be in the know" about the intimate details of the personal lives of his congregation?

2) i guess it's just for guidance really, not any biblical basis.i have heard of a case where a 'brother' approached an already married 'sister' claiming he'd 'heard' from God. he didnt know she was married.

Still, this isn't sufficient basis enough to assign the pastor to be the middle man in relationship making. Married women get approached by men all the time - both inside and outside the church, they simply turn them down and sometimes inform their husbands if they're getting bothered.

This TV guy is just too much self . . .

TV01:
1. A congregation is to be shepherded by a plurality of suitably qualified elders. With non having the pre-eminence or being in someway elevated amongst the others.

I think this is the most important point anyone could make on this thread.

2. The five-fold functions detailed in Ephesians 4:11 for the most part should have a[u] finite/limited[/u] use in the life of an individual believer. They represent one aspect – mostly physical, not spiritual aspect - of Christian need and development

5. Aggregating 3. and 4. above, please note “church” as fellowship is not the full articulation of the Christian life or the sum total of it. In extreme’s may not actually be a part of that life and in any event, can take forms other than that generally espoused by CRG’ today.

6. The[b] word rendered pastor in the bible is synonymous with elder, bishop, episcopas, presbyter, shepherd[/b] etc

This is the point Viaro tried to pass across when he pointed out the flaw in my generalization of the word "pastor" only appearing once. Very true the word pastor can be used interchangeably with the other positions.

Of blueprints & patterns;

In the NT narrative, God gave a blueprint for Christian fellowship. The apostles – most notably Paul – were charged with rolling out and fully disseminating this blueprint for church. This work was foundational. Not to be and not required to be endlessly repeated. Once rolled out, the church would be self-propagating. Akin in some ways to the creational seeding and the subsequent “after its kind” propagation.

The apostolic in terms of what Paul et al were doing, in terms of rolling out the pattern, is no longer required. That job is done. In reading the scriptural narrative, we must align, function, role, and above all context.

So when Paul wrote to Timothy at Ephesus? and exhorted him to “raise suitably qualified elders”, that was so the church there could be fully functional and stand alone. He was writing as an apostle (master builder), to Timothy (helping build). He was not writing to Timothy as a sole authority regional pastor developing a network of overseen churches.

Wherever Paul rolled out the blueprint of church it was the same. Raise up suitably qualified elders and move on. In writing to these same churches, he always addressed the elders/shepherds/bishops in plurality. The blueprint did not give leave to a SAP.

I’d love to go on and explore this further. The why, what, when and the how. Also happy to expatiate on and  substantiate from scripture my own convictions

Going down this path is good, very good. I feel this warrants a seperate/new thread? There is so much confusion and misinformation as to the role and duties and authority of a pastor in regards to the congregation. This would be helpful to many.

GODSON2009, you must be amazed at how fast I’m growing  !

God bless
TV

Hehe, feeding on spiritual on steroids?  

GODSON2009:
i see,then since you have been able to read this comment i just posted, then simply place your palm on the little mouse thingy, right click on the arrow on the extreme right and you will be a bhle to see everything written on this page where you will discover GODSON09 's comment then read on from there, hope i v been helpful enough?
shalom

No you haven't been helpful at all at all.

 Just post the verse again here, it should take more than a line or two, should it? just be a sweetheart and post it in your next response . . . unless of course the verse doesn't exist in which case you would be in a tight fix    

 FYI, I'm also feeling very generous today, so I'm extending you one free "get-out-of-a-tight-fix-card"  .

Ogajim/Kunle, certainly you fellas know some posts/posters are worthy enough only to be ignored? Just glance over, shake your head and walk away, praying in your heart that wisdom will arrest the soul at some point before its too late.

GODSON2009:
if you dont have anything sensible to say but playing follow the leader with snide comments then simply ignore my comments and slide on,if you read my earlier comment to one of your friends or leader whatever,you will see where i made reference to objectivity bringing clarification and focus,
i will not force you to go back and read my comments where i have addressed the issue you raised but please dont disturb or irritate my ears henceforth i have not written any of my comments in german or sanscrit or aramaic!

Godson my friend, no be fight at all. I defer to superior knowledge now and since I'm not sensible and cannot follow, please be so kind as to post again the exact scripture verse that says the pastor is the spiritual father and head?

If you decline to oblige I'll take that as a concession and retraction of your original claim the pastor is the head/spiritual father of the church. No need to beat dead horses over and over again. Cheers!

MyJoe:
@JeSoul

Glaaaaaaaaaad to have you back!

My friend! mucho gracias. How have you been brotha 

And even if you are quite often right, you have to be extra careful about how you put it across.  It is not worth winning an argument and losing a friend.  Man is a political animal, learn to be politick.  Allow people to discover your point as if they've discovered it for themselves rather than been told it by you.  Let them even instruct you with the lesson that you've been trying to get across to them from the very start.

A most excellent point.

Few years ago I heard this in a sermon. A preacher recounted a time when he'd been debating with an atheist. His friend was watching from the audience. After the debate:
Friend to preacher: Wow, you shot down every single one of his points
Preacher: yeah I sure did
Friend: yeah, you certainly won that debate.
Preacher: yeah I did
Friend: but you didn't win him

TV you sef you try no be small to read and respond to that epistle which was nothing more than a caveman whipping up a smoke screen 

  Godson, I will not respond to any of the diversionary topics you threw out there.  I'm a very simple person my brotha and I have consistently asked you only 1 question, "where is the scripture that says the pastor is the spiritual father and head of the church?"  

You said you would post the verses, please do so or retract your original statement. Then we can go ahead and discuss roles. Once you post the verse (or retract your assertion), I will happily indulge in all the other questions you put forth. Happily 

---

TV01:
Good to hear. And welcome back.

I percieved Arté to be a good 'un, but I've learnt to ally patience wth my discernment. The way you launched in without breaking stride suggested you were not new to NL. I certainly didn't twig. If anything, with hindsight, I would say you were slightly more commanding 

Ai! no kidding?  I'm going to put on Arte more often now 

Traugott:
Hi JeSoul Arte, thanks for the encouraging SMS reply. God bless you.

No problem my friend, no problem  . I still owe you a proper holla . . .

Pastor AIO:
@JeSoul, when I saw your post I was about to dance rings around my living room singing

JeSoul yo yo yo
JeSoul yo yo yo

But then it turns out that you've been here all the while. Now I have to go and look at ARte's posts and see what she'd been saying. Anyhow, welcome back.

ps. next time if you're going to get us all excited about any confessions please ensure that it is something juicy. Nothing less than scandalous will do.

Lol *kneels in classic yoruba style* yessir, ma binu .

Yeah, it was actually your thread with that video that did the trick and made me register a new id. I had to comment and express my . . . and I didn't want to distract from the issue by announcing it was I. Anyways thank you much much sir, its good to get a welcome back from NL's own resident pastor

Pastor AIO:
(rapturous applause)

Agbaje, remember me o! I'm the one you said you liked my sense of humour.

saharachic:
Serious? Mr, sorry oh Pastor Agbaje are you married? i'm single

ROTFLOL

Kai! if I no say this development go happen I for talk jeje and sweetly with joagbaje on those "first fruits" threads. How I go take beg am now?

Maven,
  Naturally, the responses will run the gamut from disappointment to encouragment to David/TV's.

  My own two cents is I'm glad you put this out, for the sake of others and yours. You have definitely ruined your credibility in the eyes of some, while others will think you brave. I say take all the responses, mix them all together and use them to make yourself a better person - in your real life and in your interactions here on NL. Weather this furious storm lol, it is well. But mehn I've really lost my "sister" maven now 

---

Since this is a confession thread, I have one to confess lol. I am Arté who showed up 2 days ago here . I had no mischievious motives. This ID was unrighteously suspended by the "sophisticated" spambot for posting "spam" . . . After almost a week+ and no response from the mods I decided to open a new acct.

Jesoul just got liberated so I'm back to this id. Must say I did enjoy my 2 days undercover as Arté  was nice being able to discuss without previous "baggage".

     now I know this is not as juicy as Maven's but that's all I got! lol  soon enough we'll find out that David is really a 60yr old white lady from montana, Kunle was previously a pastor at CE and Krayola is Dbanj 

TV01:
Hey you! Hows things? Hope alls well. I knew straight off Arté was not a new poster, but can't say I was anywhere near to figuring it was you. 'Sup with that? Hope all is well?.

Lol, nuthin mischievious. This ID was unrighteously suspended by the "sophisticated" spambot for posting "spam" . . . perhaps my post was too "organized" and hence looked like spam? lol I dunno. After a week and no response from the mods I decided to open a new acct as some juicy topics such as this were too good to sleep on  

 and yeah I deliberately spoke like a "seasoned" NLder in the few posts I've made so that people might get some hint who it was. I did enjoy my 2 days as Arté . This ID just got liberated with an apology so I am back to normal.

Love the way you've let GODSON2009 talk his way into a corner and neatly parried side attacks at the same time. Kudos.

Lol, me i no fit fight oh, so na the only tool i sabi use I employ

See the way he mashed up apostleship, shepherding  and then tried to introduce "dictionary definitions". The reply was so disjointed, if I hadn't been quoted, I would have thought he was addressing someone else. Religious minions, turning up for gunfights with water pistols . Its no fun anymore.

God bless
TV

Lol   I'm glad someone else was noticing how he has been tripping all over himself. Hehe.

Godson,
   where is the scripture that says "the pastor is the spiritual father and head of the church"?  

Deepsight! so you sabi come my side for sports? lol. How have you been dear?

@topic, I dunno jack about the English national team so I won't assault the poll with an uniformed selection.

Its one thing for an African-american who grew up here and had exposure to it and all the opportunities and facilities to train . . .

quite another for a hardcore Ghanian who arrived only 10 yrs ago, picked it up at 25yrs old to be participating at a competitive level.

Oya which of you Nigerians here is going to represent us? FBS has already hinted it won't be him on the slopes anytime soon

Is the law also the same for heterosexuals? if not, then shame on them. A crime against a minor is a crime against a minor, regardless of the gender or sexual orientation of the perpetrator.