Ezra saw intermarriage as a compromise in people's faith. Do people today make other compromises that have the same impact on their faith?

While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel; for the people wept bitterly.

~Ezra 10:1

 

It is very likely that they do.

Is it good for churches to receive help - financial or otherwise - as the Jews did from Artaxerxes? What would be the dangers in such an approach?

I think it really depends.  You could be dealing with someone or something that is legitimate, or it could be a scam.

Which of Paul's arguments of Chapter 15 do you find most convincing? How does belief in an afterlife affect you?

If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.  And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.

~I Corinthians 15:13-14

 

A lot of them are very convincing!  I am glad that God will be providing me with a new world of life with no harm or hardships after this life.

Of Paul's list of Spirtual Gifts, which are prominent in your church? Are Any overlooked? How do you fit in?

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.

~I Corinthians 12:12

 

I would say a lot of them, I'm not sure if any are overlooked or not.  I won't doubt if there really are a few that are though.

What does it mean to trust God completely today?

“Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him.

~II Chronicles 32:7

 

It means the same as it did before.  It means believing in his holy word and regardless of where your life may be currently going, don't be afraid of what may come because He will always be there to carry you through.

Where do you think house cleaning most needs to occur? In your life? In your church? Among your friends? In your city, state or nation?

I think in most, if not all, of those areas could use a little bit of house cleaning.

Which type of people do you think are more likely to cause trouble: "Loners" or people who have many friends and allies? Why?

I would say loners because they only work by themselves, and think for themselves.

Think of the most "Corinthian" television show you know. Then imagine if the lead characters became Christians What problems would they encounter?

Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”

~I Corinthians 7:1

 

The one show that comes to mind is the show "The Real Housewives of (insert major city name)".  If many of the main characters became Christians, they would have to give up much of their wealthy lives.

How can charismatic leaders avoid attracting attention to themselves rather than to their message?

by being more humble and telling the truth.

How do you react when someone - a parent, teacher, boss, pastor - tries to straighten you out?

I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children.

~I Corinthians 4:14

 

It depends.  I believe most of those kinds of people would be straightening me out because of something that I am not doing right.  It would not be a good thing if they were trying to do so if they didn't like me for some reason.

These kings demonstrate that one person's faith can affect a great many others. Think of strong leaders you know up close. What makes them effect at motivating and inspiring others?

He went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with him.  If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.

~2 Chronicles 15:2

 

I would say their assertive ness and courage.

When pressed do you tend to harden your position or lesten carefully to the other side? What can help you avoid a beligerent response?

I tend to try to listen to the other side before I make any decision on my beliefs. 

Christians in Paul's day hotly debated such issues as eating meat, celebratign holidays, and drinking wine. What issues do Christians debate today? What attitude should we have toward Christians we differ with?

Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

~Romans 12:9

 

For the past seven years, the issue of same-sex marriage has been a very hot topic.  Many churches of many different denominations have left one denomination to be associated with another all because they see the issue as completely unorthodox.  The attitude that we should carry towards Christians that we differ with is one where we can agree to disagree and respect each other's opinions.

Romans 9-11 explains how God worked with people disappointed in him: the Jews. Have you ever been deeply disappointed in God? What does Paul say that might help answer your questions?

I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.

~Romans 9:2

 

I can't ever speak of an instance that I have ever been deeply disappointed in God and I am bery glad that I have never felt that way!

If you were to suffer great personal and material loss, as the Isrealites did, what would you cling to?

Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:

“Who am I, Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?

~I Chronicles 17:16

 

I would cling to my faith in God

Which person do you identify with - the one who is struggling to please God or personal strength alone or the one who is trusting in Christ for victory over sin?

So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.

~Romans 7:21

 

I would say that I identify best with the person who is trusting is Christ for victory over sin.  I have learned over time that things are not going to happen when I want them to.  I have to trust in God's timing and be patient with it.

Have you ever felt far from God? Does Romans 3-5 say anythign that might help during those times?

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

~Romans 5:7-8

 

I haven't felt terribly far from God, but these chapters do provide a comfort shall I ever feel that way.

To what role does God call you? How does your persuit of that compare with the apostle paul's?

I'm not sure how to compare my role to Paul's, but I would say that God has called me to minister his people through music.

Have you ever felt yourself being drawn into another person's way of life, even when you disapprove? What can you do to escape?

I think it has been a while since I have been in that position, but what I have found best to do is to just tell that person the very truth about how you feel about the situation.

Is it better for Christianity to be popular or unpopular?

They replied, “We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of our people who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you.

~Acts 28:21

 

Probably popular because it would have more of a positive effect on people

Agrippa put his loyalty to Rome above God's claims. Do you feel any conflict between competing loyalties? Where and why?

well, I suppose there is, if I think about it now.  I feel the conflict between my own political views and the loyalty of those that are in my family that I seem to fear have different views than I do.  It scares me.

Under pressure, are you confident or indecisive? What do you need to gain confidence?

I'm probably more indecisive than confident when I'm put under pressure.  I'm not sure who isn't, but for me, I just need to relax and not worry about what others think about what I have decided upon.

When you see immorality all around you, what can you do to change it?

Pray about it and encourage the people around me that are being immoral to go in the right direction they need to be going

Idols need not involve images of wood or stone; it's possible to worship such things as money, another person, or fame. What are some "idols" you might be tempted to worship?

They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.”

~II Kings 17:15

If I were to worship idols, I would probably be tempted to worship the fact that I finally had a job someday.

Some people say it doesn't matter what you believe, as long as you believe it with all your heart. What would Jezebel say to this? What would Elijah?

Jezebel, being tghe evil woman she was, would care less about what others thought, whereas, Elijah would storongly encourage people to say whatever they believed.

Elijah and Elisha shows how God uses different personalities to get his message across. From the description below, which of teh two prophets do you more closely identify with?

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”

“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.

~II Kings 2:9

Before giving my answer, the following is an excerpt of the description from The Studen Bible (NRSV) found in II Kings 2:

Replacing A Legend: Who Could Follow The Great Elijah?

When a prophet like Elijah leaves the scene, who will dare to take his place?  As time came to choose a successor, Elijah looked to find someone out of a different mold.  He Settled on his most faithful companion, a farmer named Elisha.

Similar Names but Different Styles

The slight variance in the two men's names expresses their difference in style.  Elijah, who's name meant "the Lord is my God," dueled a king and the priests of Baal in dramatic confrontation of power.  He lived apart from the people and preached judgement and the need for reprentance.

Elisha ("God is salvation") shifted the emphasis.  He lived among people, prefering the poor and outcast, and stressed life, hope and God's grace.  All social classes had access to Elisha, from lowly widows to foreign kings.  His colorful life included work as a spy, a miracle worker, an adviser to the king, a leader of a school of prophets, and an anointer of revolutionaries.

Elisha traveled widely, and his bald head and wooden walking staff became his trademarks.  News of his miracles spread, making him a famous national figure for 50 years.  As Elish lay on his deathbed, the distraught king of Isreal knelt beside him, asking for one last word of advice.

personally, I would like to aspire to be like Elisha.  Not that Elijah's way of handling things were bad, but in this day and age it is better to be amonst those who are more in need.

Acts 20 shows Paul's closeness to other Christians. What produced such intense feelings? What could increase your closeness to others?

“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.  I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.

~Acts 20:22-23

Paul was elated that the people he spoke to enjoyed his leadership.  I fel close to others when I know that they love and care for me.

Think of a married couple you know who have a ministry together. What attitudes towards each other do they show?

The only couple I can think of at the moment are my parents and they share a positive attitude towards each other.

wHY DID gOD CHOOSE pAUL TO LEAD THE EARLY CHURCH? wHAT SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS DO YOU HAVE THAT gOD COULD USE?

But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

~Acts 18:6

because Paul became filled with the Holy Spirit.  I have a kind heart, and will be a good listener and helper to others.

cAN YOU IMNAGINE SERVING gOD AS EXCITING? wHAT WOULD MAKE IT SO FOR YOU?

OF COURSE IT IS EXCITING TO ME1  i SERVE hIM AND HIS CHURCH IN MANY WAYS!

iF SOMEONE WERE TO EVALUATE YOU NOW, AS AGAINST FIVE YEARS AGO, WOULD YOU SHOW IMPROVEMENT?

yES, i BELIEVE i WOULD SHOW AS MUCH IMPORVEMENT AS POSSIBLE.

In today's world, how do political leaders affect a country;'s overal moral and spiritual climate? sHOULD THE DO MORE?

iT'S POSSIBLE TO A POINT THEY CAN, BUT THEY NEED TO STICK TO THE RELIGION THAT COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED UPON.

Who serves the role of "prophet" today?

Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”

But the people said nothing.

~I Kings 18:21

Jesus is our only prophet

Have you ever witnessed a miracle? If so, how did it affect you?

I don't think I have yet.

Have you seen rebeion leadto "civil war" in families? Churches? Schools? when you don't like wha tthe leaders are doing are there alternatives to outright rebelion?

There was continual warfare between Rehoboam and Jeroboam.

~I Kings 14:30

Unfortunately, I can not speak for my lifetime

Do you find it easier to criticize leaders than to lead? How do you usually respond when you are placed in a leadership position?

it probably is a little easier to criticize than to lead, but I try to be the best leader that I can be.

Whomn do you encourage, and how do you do it? Who encourages you?

I encourage any of my friends that need encouragement, and on most occasions, those friends repay the favor.

Who in your circle do you feel is "least likely" to become a Christian? Do you really know what goes on underneath the surface or are you making assumptions?

most of my friends are already Christians

Has your life changed quickly adn dramatically like Paul's ddi, or slowly and gradually?

All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”

~Acts 9:21

So far, my life has changed slowly and gradually.

Think of some barriers that you would like to see the gospel "break through". What kind of men or women of God will be needed for that to happen? Are you one of those individuals?

I would do my best to try to help people to break through any barriers.

If severe persecution came to the church in your region today, what would happen to your faith?

And Saul approved of their killing him.

On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.

~Acts 8:1

Not the church in general, but my denomination has recieved recent persecution in the past several years.  No matter how harsh the persecution, it has not shifted my faith a bit!

Do you know anyone like Abiathar; someone who has suffered stunning losses? How can you or someone else - be like David to him or her?

Be there for them by giving them all your support and encouragement, and don't be afraid to prayer for or pray with them.

How would you react if you were put on trial and asked to justify your faith in Christ? What would you say?

I have never had the experience to stand up for myself in the court of law.  I imagine that I would feel a little bit nervous, but since I woud only want to speak the truth in what I believe in, I would stand strong for every word I say.  Stephen, our first Christain martyr, , said it the best way that anyone could, adn we should use his words as our modle of defence in our faith.

How is the Holy Spirit active in your life?

Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.   But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

~Acts 5:38-39

The Holy Spirit is active in my life through song and by sharing the good news with friends on social networks.

The disciples led mass conversions to Christ. What made them such effective spokesmen?

You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead.  We are witnesses of this.

~Acts 3:15

They passionately taught what they firmly believed in.

Many people will, at some point, see their well-run lives disintegrate. What enables someone to pick up the pieces, as david did?

The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!”

~II Samuel 18:33

Prayer and trust in God.

If someone is good loking, gifted or naturally likable, how can such a person guard against egotism?

they should be humble about it.

What determines your choices? Your own desires? Or your understanding of God's will? Think of some recent decisions you have made and apply this question to them.

David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die!
Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.

~II Samuel 12:5, 7

On the majority, I would say my understanding of God's will.  God's will is very important ot me and I know I have to keep telling myself to trust in it, even if I might not like the result that might come out.  I truly believe God knows what is the very best for me.

Are there any situations in which you are tempted to "just go along" with sin because of pressure?

I woud say not very much.  I'm sure I do have my moments, but in most cases I do try my best what I think is rigth in my heart

Who helps your conscience? Who can you count on to tell you the unpleasant truth about yourself?

The answer to both questions simply points to God.

Can you think of any sincere men or woemn today who are passionately fighting on the wrong sic=de of an important cause?

I can't think of anyone right now

Getting to know Jesus Changes a person. How have you been changed?

This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.

~John 21:24

It's hard to explain how I believe I have been changed.  All I can say si that by faith I know I have been

Have you been able to witness God's work? Where and how?

I believe i have and that would be through the gift of giving

Are there situations in your life where you would buy peace at any cost? What happens to the truth when you do so?

I'm pretty sure I'm at a weak moment right now, but I sure could use some peace right now.  i'm really tired of my parents fighting every day and night.  It probably doesnt' help that I've been trapped in this house for three and a half years.  If I were on my own, I could really care less if they fought every day!  I'd rather be oblivious of their ocursed yelling.  Seriously I have no idea what truth has to do with it right now...

Havie you ever been around someone facing death? How did he or she act? What does Jesus' response to impending death reveal about why he came to earth?

Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy

~John 16:20

I can't remember a time when I have been around someone that has been facing death.  Jesus' response reveals that although we will briefly grieve for a time but we will soon become joyful for that person having lived a good life

What can you learn from Abigail's style of dealing with hot-tempered people?

remember to stay strong and stand up for yourself and other that you love when it is necessary

What makes you impatient? What can you learn about patience from David's life?

See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life.  May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you.

~I Samuel 24:11-12

Lately, falling in love again has been making me feel impatient.  I want and i feel ready for that to happen again, but I know it's not going to happen tomorrow.  But what i have learned is to just pray and listen to God as he asures me of what will happen along my journey of life.

What friend is most loyal to you? What do es that loyalty mean to you?

I know I have at least two of these sorts of people in my life.  These people i'm able to share anything that is on my mind or how I'm feeling at the moment.  These people and their loyalty to me mean the whole world to me.

Despite what C.S. Lewis says, many people do think of Jesus as "merely a great man." How do they rationalize it?

Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves

~John 14;11

Basically they doubt the divinity of Jesus. 

What honest questions do you need to bring before God?

How long must I wait until I will find the true happiness that will once again my my heart feel whole?  Have I done anything wrong to not deserve that?

Is it possible to be so concerned with keeping the peace that you end up opposing what God is doing? What examples can you think of today?

I suppose it is possible with many of us.  On a personal note, I don't think I have encountered such a situation.

What have you sacrificed for the sake of another person?

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have  the it tofull. 

~John 10;10

In the past I have sacrificed some valuable personal time that I could have had to myself to get some important things done.

When you are put in the role of leader, how do you respond to pressure? Are Saul's Weaknesses your weaknesses?

For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
   and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
   he has rejected you as king.”

~I Samuel 15:23

I respond to pressure with as much calm as possible.  Anxiety only makes the pressure worse.

Have you ever seen God take a bad request with bad motives and use it for his own purposes?

If you fear the LORD and serve and obey him and do not rebel against his commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the LORD your God—good!  But if you do not obey the LORD, and if you rebel against his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your ancestors.

~I Samuel 12:14-15

I don't believe I have seen God do this.  I don't exactly agree that God would do any evil acts against someone.  

What leader do you respect most? What qualities does he or she show?

I respect a leader that shows he or she is incharge of a group, community or organization.  That leader must show that they have a great knowlge of the task at hand and be able to be encouraging to the one that they are leading along the way.

Often from the ruins of one era, a new one springs to life. Can you see this cycle of decay and revival in any of the families you know? In your own life?

I think we have all see the end and begining of an era within our own families.  An end of an era can occur with the death of a beloved relative, and a beginigng of a new one can quickly come with the birth of a new generation into a family.  This can also happen with the change of an occupation.  In my own family, an end of an era came upon us when my dad was let go from working for a life insurance company for  ten years.  Thankfully a few years back, a begining of an era was waiting in the wings for him when he got a call to be an interim pastor for two churches in the southern part of the state.  He has served a few other interim positions since then, but now he is a designated minister for a church not too far from home and hopefully by the end of the year, that position will become more full-time.  So we can say that and end to an era is about to come along with the begining of a new and joyful one!

Is some unfulfilled longingmaking you miserable? How can you take it to God?

I believe that the unfulfilled longing I have in my life is the want and /or need of asignifican other in my life.  I'll be honest that i really try to not let this make me a miserable person.  I do still believe that I was in a good relationship for quite some time, it just didn't work out as maybe hoped near the end of things.  Thankfully the significan other I did have and I are still pretty good friends and corespond to one another now and then.  The good Lord knows if things will turn aournd or change in the future, whether it be near or far down the winding road, or if we just keep going our seperate ways to find someone new, but how i have been dealing with this longing is just praying to God that he will one day deliver - and I know he will - when the time is right. 

Do you find it hard to accept and admire those who come from outside your group? What "qualifications" do you set up?

I don't think it's too hard for me to accept others into my group of friends.  I definitely try to keep an open mind about who a person is and accept them for who they truly are, despite some differences they may have from me.

In Judas's life, one sin led to other, bigger ones. Have you ever seen this process in action? Where and how? What steps can you take to counteract this process?

well, I don't think I've seen a process of this situation in action, but I'm guessing for an example we could use someone that is having drug addiction problems and the way to deal with that, I think, is to have an intervention to make that person realize that what they are doing is wrong

How can a behind-the-scenes person today have a role in introducing others to Jesus?

hmmm...well, I think the way I see it is that you don't have to be anyone particularly famous or special in order to have a major role in introducing others to Jesus.  For instance, I am no one who is famous or well-known in this world, but I, like many people have the capability of letting people know what Jesus is all about.

Imagine yourself in a private conversation with Jesus, music like the Samaritan woman's. What would you want to talk about?

The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

  Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” 

John 4:25-26

There are porbably so many different things that He and I could talk about, but I think I would start the conversation out by saying how much I love reading his word and I do everythingi can humanly and possibly can to follow it.

Are there questions about God you feel you cannot ask in public? What are they, and who could you ask in private?

This seems to be a pretty simple question for me to answer.  Actually, I don't really have any questions about God - whether it's about how he exists or about what he does or what he is able to do - that I would be too ashamed to ask in public.  On a personal note, I don't question anything abut him or what he does.  It's ok if you, the reader, do!  On the chance that I did have a question about God, I would seek either a really close friend or even better yet, my pastor.

Do your troubles come more from your circumstances or from your own internal weaknesses? What kind of help do you need from God?

In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit. 

~Judges 17:6

This is a great question!  I would say that my troubles come from more of my circumstances than from my internal weaknesses.  I, like all of us, have gotten ourselves into fights or disagreements with not just family members but friends as well.  I am an individual that usually doesn't like to get into those kinds of situations.  Many of them do trouble me and yes at times they have gotten me into some sort of trouble.  In order to resolve these problems, I usually turn to God and seek his help and advice.  I pray for him to give me continued strength and to search my own heart for the right way to take care of things as well as the right words to say to the person the next time I get to talk to them.  I also reflect on what had happened between me and that friend or family member and after a while come to the realization where I have very possibly have gone wrong.  I then feel very sorry for anything I've said or done to hurt the other individual and want to tell them how genuinely sorry I am and then pray that between that point and the next time I get to talk to that person that God just speaks to them and opens up their heart to hopefully forgive me of my recent wrongdoings.  I beleive with this last step it can take some patience to come to the resolve, but it is always worthi it in the end when we come back together in peace.

What might best be said of you: "Oh what he/she might have been" or "He/she made the best of his/her abilities"?

When he returned, he said to his father and mother, “I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife.” 

~Judges 14:2

I think most poeple would say "She made the best of her abilities" when it comes to me.

Do you picture yourself as a leader? Why or why not? What would God have to change to make you a leader?

But the LORD said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.”

~Judges 6:23

I do see myself as a leader more and more every day. As a teacher you need to be fearless in the knowledge you must provide



In what areas could you strenthen your talents to become more well-rounded?

I guess if we use the example of my piano practicing, I could say that I should keep trying to stay dedicated to a certain span of time to get the songs I want to work on accomplished

Suppose you had been in the room to hear the first news of Jesus' resurrection. Would you have believed it? What makes you believe it now?

But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed.

~Luke 23:23

I would have believed it.  I still believe it today because for whatever sins I have made, I have always been forgiven by Him

What one question would you most like to ask Jesus in person? Given how he handled tough questions in Luke, can you imagine how he might respond to yours?

Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him.  Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.

~Luke 19:47-48

I'm sure it's a popular question to ask in Christian circles. Most of us have been visited by them and most of us shut them out and want them to leave us alone despite how friendly they are.  My question is this.  Should we really view people who are part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as true Christians?  A vast number of friends I've talked to about it believe that they are not, however, I do have a few other friends that are convinced they are.  I'm sure if I had the ability to ask Jesus this, face-to-face, he wold be able to instantly give me the rightful answer without pause