Welcome to General Chat - GAW Community Area
This General Chat area started off as a place for people to talk about things that are off topic, however it has quickly evolved into a community and has become an integral part of the GAW experience for many of us.
Based on its evolving needs and plenty of user feedback, we are trying to bring some order and institute some rules. Please make sure you read these rules and participate in the spirit of this community.
Rules for General Chat
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Be respectful to each other. This is of utmost importance, and comments may be removed if deemed not respectful.
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Avoid long drawn out arguments. This should be a place to relax, not to waste your time needlessly.
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Personal anecdotes, puzzles, cute pics/clips - everything welcome
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Please do not spam at the top level. If you have a lot to post each day, try and post them all together in one top level comment
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Try keep things light. If you are bringing in deep stuff, try not to go overboard.
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Things that are clearly on-topic for this board should be posted as a separate post and not here (except if you are new and still getting the feel of this place)
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If you find people violating these rules, deport them rather than start a argument here.
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Feel free to give feedback as these rules are expected to keep evoloving
In short, imagine this thread to be a local community hall where we all gather and chat daily. Please be respectful to others in the same way
I started reading "Power in Praise" by Merlin R. Carothers. This is a hand-me-down from my long departed mom and recently my uncle recommended it. Interesting. It says that God "wants us to be thankful in everything, regardless of how evil our situation appears."
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (New KJV)
The book says, "Praise is based on a total and joyful acceptance of the present as part of God's loving, perfect will for us. Praise is not based on what we think or hope will happen in the future. This is an absolute 'law,' clearly observable in the practice of praise. We praise God, not for what we expect will happen in or around us, but we praise Him for what He is and where and how we are right now!"
It's given me something to think about. For over a year now, I've grieved over lost friends and family members who have gone astray. Perhaps by doing so, it's denied the possibility that God is in control and that He can cause things to work for good for those who love God.
Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
It's difficult to let go, knowing that not always people's fates turn for the better. People may die resisting God to the end. But I guess we just need to surrender to God's sovereignty and not assume that things must work out the way we expect them to. This is troublesome when I think about the depths of degeneracy that people I once knew have delved into after I had lost contact with them. Plus my propensity to blame myself for others' misfortunes, thinking that if I had only done things differently, they may not have ended up in the situation.
But people bring judgment upon themselves. I cannot presume to think that I could somehow save others just as I cannot presume to think that I could somehow prevent them from sinning. It's free will, and we need to have faith that God is in control.
In a way, I suppose life is like that swamp in The Never Ending Story. Our fears and doubts will cause us to sink into the bog. Focusing on praising God regardless of our bad situations is what can keep us going, and it is what can remove impediments to God's will to work on others. The book starts out with some anecdotal stories about things happening once people surrender their pessimistic prayers and just praise God regardless of the situation.
Thanks for sharing. I love that this place is so much more than some "conspiracy" group because there's definitely alot of people in God's army here.
it will be biblical should only scare those who stand against him