Time for round 2 of my "attack." My attack not on anyone in particular, but on anyone who happens to be offended by the things I say. For anyone who may not know, this is a serious post pertaining to God's word. So here's your chance to slam the door... OK. If you're still here, I'll start by pointing out that I am aware that some consider me conceited and arrogant when I talk about these things, and think that I should change the way I bring forth my message. And that's what it is. A message that has been a long time coming, and hastened by recent interactions from numerous people in my life. A message that I finally felt compelled enough to share. As for what people think of my methods, take it or leave it. If you read in Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John about the travels of Christ and the way he presented God's word to the people, you will find there was very little difference. Most people that heard him were greatly offended by his manner and the things he had to say. Many even hated him. He was very blunt at times, very cryptic at times. He chastised his disciples for being dense at times, having to ask him to explain things he had said. The Jews and the Pharisees considered him downright rude. He publicly made examples on many occasions of the things people were doing wrong, so as to teach others the narrow way. God's word was like a sword coming out of his mouth, cutting into the hearts of all who heard him. A few listened and wanted more of the wisdom he was teaching. Most let that sword pass right through their hearts, then hardened their hearts against him. Did he care? No. Not really. He was always sad when people didn't want to hear his words, but he knew that it was supposed to be that way. His disciples and Paul taught in much the same way in their travels after his resurrection and ascendance, and people reacted much the same to them, until they were all slain for their testimony one by one. But enough of that. The same as Christ, I make no apologies to those I may offend. The same as Christ, I will make no effort to dull the edge of the sword. So here we go... If you are one of those who ever reminds someone of a debt they owe you, stop reading. You don't want to know the truth. If you are one of those who has or would sue an individual or a company for anything under any circumstance, stop reading. You don't want to know the truth. If you are one of those who would demand something back that has been stolen from you, stop reading. You don't want to know the truth. If you are one of those who only gives to others "when you can afford it" or "when you have the time," stop reading. You don't want to know the truth. If you are one of those who will strike someone back after having been struck by them, stop reading. You don't want to know the truth. If you are one of those who will kill someone for any reason, stop reading. You don't want to know the truth. If you are one of those who has ever said "Hope he hangs," "Hope he fries," or "They should cut his balls off," or anything similar, stop reading. You don't want to know the truth. If you are one of those who has ever been happy that someone was dead, stop reading. You don't want to know the truth. If you are one of those who desires a great career that will make you a lot of money, stop reading. You don't want to know the truth. If you are one of those who constantly judges others, then says someone is judgmental when they judge you, stop reading. You don't want to know the truth. If you are one of those who believes God will forgive you for your sins when there are people you haven't forgiven for their sins against you or others, or there are people you dislike or hate for whatever reason, stop reading. You don't want to know the truth. If you are one of those who thinks a "little white lie," a tiny deception, or an omission of truth is OK, stop reading. You don't want to know the truth. If you are one of those who thinks God gives "blanket forgiveness" for your sins just by asking, stop reading. You don't want to know the truth. That one is highly important, so I must explain. Whenever you have sinned, you should pray in private to God the Father (not to Christ) and ask for forgiveness for those sins. Ask, and you will be forgiven... for those sins that you asked about. Get it? Any sins you have committed that go unforgiven will be recorded in the Books of Works, and when you face judgement, if they are still written in the books, your name will not be written in the Book of Life. I'm not necessarily saying that you must itemize all your sins every day and ask for forgiveness of each one individually. I'm saying that God will not forgive you of sins that you were unaware of. To God, ignorance is no excuse. And what I mean by "You don't want to know the truth" is once again that due to a lifetime of exposure to falsehoods taught by all churches, spread all over facebook, written on bathroom walls, whatever... You will never be able to unlearn the things you think you know to make room for the truth in God's word. And as I said before, there's only one way to get it. Sure, you can listen to my advice and do what I suggest, but I have no intention of telling everything. I'm not trying to start a church here. I am only a messenger. You must make your own effort to find the truth by emptying your mind of all theological garbage, reading the scriptures, praying sincerely to God for understanding, reading the same scriptures again sometimes, and continuing on. Don't just start reading the Bible and read straight through it. You'll get nothing from it. Pick a book. Matthew is a great one to start with, or Luke. Daniel is a good one, although I think it's best to start by really learning the story of Christ. Pick a book. Read it. Pray about it. Read it again. Stay with each book until you feel like you get it. And if you read something that makes you think you must have misread it because it is saying you are guilty of a sin you were unaware of, believe it. If you read something that seems to be in conflict with what you thought before, let go of what you thought before and believe it. That's how the hard truth from God's word comes into our hearts. Not like a flower, not like a dove, but like a tornado ripping everything to shreds that Satan had planted there before. If you made it to the end with me, God bless you. grandmother of the bride dresses