Today ...

[Sudsy]

Tonight my sister and I visited a church forty-five minutes from here, since our church didn't have an evening service. We had been invited by a little Asian man who used to talk to us before the Ryan's where he was a waiter, closed--fifteen years ago. So I hadn't seen him in all that time. He had framed, self-calligraphized copies of Psalm 23 for both of us.

After the service, a young man came over to welcome us. Turns out he lives in our town. What he really wanted to know was if I'm Brethren. He has Amish roots, and his mom still covers her head.

Oh, and another man checked each of us to see if we were saved. Well, I mean, he asked us; he didn't quote, Hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

I must say, this was probably the most welcoming church I have ever visited.

Curious - does breaking any of the commandments of Jesus cause one to lose their salvation ?

[Joy]

Tonight my sister and I visited a church forty-five minutes from here, since our church didn't have an evening service. We had been invited by a little Asian man who used to talk to us before the Ryan's where he was a waiter, closed--fifteen years ago. So I hadn't seen him in all that time. He had framed, self-calligraphized copies of Psalm 23 for both of us.

After the service, a young man came over to welcome us. Turns out he lives in our town. What he really wanted to know was if I'm Brethren. He has Amish roots, and his mom still covers her head.

Oh, and another man checked each of us to see if we were saved. Well, I mean, he asked us; he didn't quote, Hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

I must say, this was probably the most welcoming church I have ever visited.

Curious - does breaking any of the commandments of Jesus cause one to lose their salvation ?

Are you asking the forum in general for an exegesis of I John 2:3?
Or my interpretation?
Or how appropriately I am applying the verse?

[Sudsy]

Tonight my sister and I visited a church forty-five minutes from here, since our church didn't have an evening service. We had been invited by a little Asian man who used to talk to us before the Ryan's where he was a waiter, closed--fifteen years ago. So I hadn't seen him in all that time. He had framed, self-calligraphized copies of Psalm 23 for both of us.

After the service, a young man came over to welcome us. Turns out he lives in our town. What he really wanted to know was if I'm Brethren. He has Amish roots, and his mom still covers her head.

Oh, and another man checked each of us to see if we were saved. Well, I mean, he asked us; he didn't quote, Hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

I must say, this was probably the most welcoming church I have ever visited.

Curious - does breaking any of the commandments of Jesus cause one to lose their salvation ?

Are you asking the forum in general for an exegesis of I John 2:3?
Or my interpretation?
Or how appropriately I am applying the verse?

It just read to me that since y'all were asked if y'all were saved and you referenced this verse, that this man did not quote, that perhaps you were making a connection using this verse with salvation requiring full obedience to the commandments of Jesus to be saved.

I see your affiliation is 'Baptist' , so it would appear by use of this verse you are 'free will' Baptist not an 'OSAS' Baptist. Is that correct ?

I was just curious in your use of this verse with regard to salvation. I was raised in Pentecostalism with much 'eternal insecurity' regarding if my obedience was enough to ultimately be saved. I don't rest my salvation on perfect obedience anymore but rather on knowing I am and will be saved as God has placed a desire in me by the Holy Spirit to be obedient and this is an on-going learning experience in sanctification.

Anyway, it is quite wonderful to visit a church as you did and receive such a warm welcome. I have visited some that completely ignored me and some that looked at me like what was I doing in their church while other churches to varying degree were welcoming. In the MB church I attended we gave out coffee mugs to first time visitors and had a welcoming center at the church entrance. Each set of entrance doors had one or two (often a married couple) shaking hands with everyone who entered and giving them a church bulletin. Quite welcoming.

[temporal1]

Today .. i returned from a weekend+ visit with my son+his wife in Michigan.
i enjoy the drive, mostly thru the Indiana countryside.

It snowed there all day yesterday.

Illinois gas = $4.35/gal regular
Michigan gas = $3.73/gal regular

[temporal1]

Without any fanfare, lively discussions have moved away from Politics (even Current Events).
They said it would never happen.

i’m enjoying the content. a lot.

[Joy]

It just read to me that since y'all were asked if y'all were saved and you referenced this verse, that this man did not quote, that perhaps you were making a connection using this verse with salvation requiring full obedience to the commandments of Jesus to be saved.

I see your affiliation is 'Baptist' , so it would appear by use of this verse you are 'free will' Baptist not an 'OSAS' Baptist. Is that correct ?

I was just curious in your use of this verse with regard to salvation. I was raised in Pentecostalism with much 'eternal insecurity' regarding if my obedience was enough to ultimately be saved. I don't rest my salvation on perfect obedience anymore but rather on knowing I am and will be saved as God has placed a desire in me by the Holy Spirit to be obedient and this is an on-going learning experience in sanctification.

Anyway, it is quite wonderful to visit a church as you did and receive such a warm welcome. I have visited some that completely ignored me and some that looked at me like what was I doing in their church while other churches to varying degree were welcoming. In the MB church I attended we gave out coffee mugs to first time visitors and had a welcoming center at the church entrance. Each set of entrance doors had one or two (often a married couple) shaking hands with everyone who entered and giving them a church bulletin. Quite welcoming.

No, I am not Freewill Baptist. My church is Independent Baptist, but not stereotypical IB. I don't believe either extreme end of the spectrum is biblical, that is, Saved and lost, saved and lost, saved and lost; or, Make a profession of faith, and you're going to Heaven regardless of how you live.

[Sudsy]

It just read to me that since y'all were asked if y'all were saved and you referenced this verse, that this man did not quote, that perhaps you were making a connection using this verse with salvation requiring full obedience to the commandments of Jesus to be saved.

I see your affiliation is 'Baptist' , so it would appear by use of this verse you are 'free will' Baptist not an 'OSAS' Baptist. Is that correct ?

I was just curious in your use of this verse with regard to salvation. I was raised in Pentecostalism with much 'eternal insecurity' regarding if my obedience was enough to ultimately be saved. I don't rest my salvation on perfect obedience anymore but rather on knowing I am and will be saved as God has placed a desire in me by the Holy Spirit to be obedient and this is an on-going learning experience in sanctification.

Anyway, it is quite wonderful to visit a church as you did and receive such a warm welcome. I have visited some that completely ignored me and some that looked at me like what was I doing in their church while other churches to varying degree were welcoming. In the MB church I attended we gave out coffee mugs to first time visitors and had a welcoming center at the church entrance. Each set of entrance doors had one or two (often a married couple) shaking hands with everyone who entered and giving them a church bulletin. Quite welcoming.

No, I am not Freewill Baptist. My church is Independent Baptist, but not stereotypical IB. I don't believe either extreme end of the spectrum is biblical, that is, Saved and lost, saved and lost, saved and lost; or, Make a profession of faith, and you're going to Heaven regardless of how you live.

Thanks.

[temporal1]

A few days ago ..
It was WINDY. i left a grocer with a few plastic bags, one was VERY light, holding 2 bags of popcorn.
There was no immediate traffic, but there could have been, a burst of wind grabbed the bag and off it flew!

A young couple spotted my dilemma, the young man lept to the rescue, retrieving both bags of popcorn, as we watched the store bag rocket-off into the distance! i felt a bit defeated, i’m careful not to litter, esp not to let those plastic bags get away.

So there we stood in lol laughter together for a moment. He was a skinny young guy, arms covered in tattoos, i’m not sure of his friend’s/wife’s appearance, she was close by, we all had a hearty laugh. Together. It was so sweet.

If not for that gust of wind, we would not have noticed each other. As it is, days later, i’m still smiling about it.

There are so many genuinely nice, helpful, respectful people in the world.

[temporal1]

Today .. i went for overdue dental work, 2 crowns, and replacement of a permanent crown (that fell off last week).
i return for 2 permanent crowns in two weeks.

This appt was made in January, so i had lots of time to be anxious.
It went ok.

My 2022 health ins benefit for dental increased from $200/annually to $1500/annually, i decided i’d better act on it.
In addition, the provider offers some “patient assistance” with payments, both some percentage reductions, and 0% interest payments, all combined, it will help. i have more work to do. i’m not sure what right now. the dentist created a plan, i need to study it again.

Even with all this, i will still have out of pocket, i’m not sure exactly how much. The bill for his plan is $11,000+. Nothing cosmetic.
To me, that’s the price of a car. Or two. My car is now 22 years old. i bought it used in 2008 for $7000. i’m not living in the real world. Not anymore. The world has moved on (without a lot of us).

i’m fortunate, the necessary dental work is not visible, i’m told my front teeth are pretty good. i have no complaints.
So, i’ve been able to procrastinate without looking awful.

i brush+floss, and have regular cleanings, or i’m sure it would have been worse, faster.

i’m fortunate i was not in pain, and i managed to avoid emergency work. i was getting nervous about both.
so, i made “the executive decision” i needed to delay no more.

After this year, i believe the new $1500/annual ins benefit should be more than enough to maintain.

[temporal1]

Today .. i go for an ultrasound of my kidneys. are we having fun yet??
i’m not expecting anything extraordinary .. at my recent annual checkup, i learned a 2015 scan revealed a small cyst, with recommendation for an ultrasound.

first i knew of it!
the 2015 surgeon who ordered the test has retired. he must have felt it was nothing.
i suppose, 7 years later, it must have been nothing, or .. bad things surely would have resulted.

so now they’ll see what’s been going on. i expect nothing much.