so i like to post twice in a row...
what's wrong with that?

i'm pretty sure i can't stand to be part of a fellowship of believers which will exclude me or anyone else on account of something that is not a central part of Christian doctrine, whether it be for holding to an open view of divine foreknowledge, for believing that spiritual gifting still takes place, for leaning towards annihilationism, for holding out a degree of hope for the unevangelized, or even for having a beer or two.

it makes me very, very, angry that it's so very damned difficult to find a fellowship of believers that does not exclude others for one unreasonable reason or another. it's as if Christians are sitting around trying to figure out how to prevent unity in the body.

and so i'm not sure where to go or what to do.

did i mention that i live a few blocks away from five different churches all in a row?

certainly lends credence to the gospel of Christ, doesn't it?

how am i supposed to hold out any hope for the unity of the church of God when this is what i have to live with? someone please tell me.

Jesus seemed to think that unity among believers - unity to the degree of the union of members of the Trinity - would make it evident to the world that he was sent from the Father and that the Father loves us. Maybe we just don't care about that.

John 17
 20"I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."

yes, it is true
BACK-TO-BACK POSTING!!!

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when i find a good bargain, i compulsively want to share it
when i have a good idea, i compulsively want to share it
when i hear good music, i compulsively want to share it
when i find a good recipe, i compulsively want to share it

maybe i've but just begun to realize that i've found a good news

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from Romans 1 (ESV):
 8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 9For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 11For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you-- 12that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. 13I want you to know, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

wow.
oh that by grace we would all seek with such fervor the spread of the good news of the kingdom.