What confession of sin is NOT: 1. Informing a human priest in the confession booth. 2. Giving God information. “God, You won’t believe what I've done.” 3. Speculating. “IF...I have sinned...” 4. Saying “I’m sorry...” “....just a joke!” 5. Asking/pleading to God for forgiveness for our sins. Forgiveness already available in Christ's death. 6. Plea-bargaining for a lesser charge. “Yes...but....” 7. Emotional groveling; mental contortions. 8. Psychological catharsis. “Feel good when you get it off your chest” 9. Superficial or flippant incantation. (Sin was reason for Jesus’ death). 10. “Confessionalism” – (Excessive sin-consciousness; wallowing in weakness; focusing on ‘flesh’; navel-gazing introspection; “Worm-theology”; Pride of sinfulness; back-handed basis of spirituality; exhibitionism; revel in relating sinfulness in testimony; Who was the worst?). 11. Based on false established attitudes which create false-guilt and false-confession. Some try to agree with God that something is wrong, when God never said it is sin. But, if not done in faith, it is sin. (Rom. 14:23).
James Fowler

What Marriage is

What Marriage is

Fri, Jun 26, 1992 11:58:12 AM
In a message to Gary Bradford written on Monday, June 22, 1992 at 11:00:000 PM, Tracy writes:0
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Tra-> other in their hearts? Maybe what the Bible means is that sex outside0 Tra-> of a loving commitment is wrong.0 0
Tracy -0
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Hope you don’t mind if I comment a bit on that one…0 0
Ex 22:16 says, “if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with0 her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.”0 0
Definition of betrothed: A quasi marriage (resembling)0 0
Defintion of endow: furnish, provide for0 0
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De 24:1 says, “When a man hath taken a wife, AND married her…”0 0
1 Co 9:5 says, “It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to0 avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife…”0 0
and also, “But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his0 VIRGIN, if she pas the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what0 he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.”0 0
Definition of wife: a woman joined in marriage to a man0 0
Defintion of marriage: the legal or religious CEREMONY that formalizes the0 decision of a man and woman to live as husband and wife0 0
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Tracy (and others), please don’t rob yourself of both the right and priviledge 0 of a relationship so good, that you both are willing to make the ultimate0 committment, which is marriage.0
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Marriage is not sex. Marriage is not a feeling.0 0
Men often have confused ideas about what love really is. A man who loves a0 woman dearly, will keep the relationship pure FOR marriage.0 0
I have heard it said, that a woman is the keeper of sexual purity in a0 pre-marital relationship (dating, etc.). I agree with this in only one0 respect: If a man cannot control himself, then the woman must do HIS job to0 keep the realtionship pure.0
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It’s time that men get it together and act like MEN, because that is what a0 woman truly wants for her husband.0
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A MAN is willing to assume the responsibilities for keeping the purity and0 godliness of his marriage. If he is not married, then the MAN is responsible0 for bringing a God-given relationship to fruition in the finest way he can.0 0