Don't know if you've ever had a guy from the Gideons speak at your church, but if you've had one, you know that they have quite a great testimony. The Lord's Word will not return to him void, said Chester Meisberger, a man who spoke at my local church about a year ago.

I just talked to a guy who went to Tanzinia with the Gideons a short while back. They gave out bibles there to children whose parents could not afford Bibles or books. For many of them, it was the first book they ever had in their home. Undoubtedly, he said, the parents would ask the children to read the Bible to them.

He said going down the road the kids would recognize them and wave their bibles. He saw children reading the bibles and said some of them were muslims and this was their first exposure to the Gospel.

He said that the Gideons, Gideons International, maintain a faith fund. 100 percent of the donations to that fund go to providing bibles in foreign countries.

He said that many classrooms they went into over there had no paper for the children. One classroom had one desk for 90 kids. It makes you thankful to live in a country like ours where we are so richly blessed. I think God truly has his hand on our land.

Have you ever heard of the Gideons? Chester M. told us some interesting stories about Gideon bibles placed in hotel rooms. They prevented suicides and infidelities and they helped lead people to Christ and his will for their lives.

If you go to a country were people are so poor they cannot afford paper. Then you go there and give them a Bible. Do you think this is a type of coercion. All that poor child knows now is that Christians are very rich and that is reason enough to become a Christian. The Christ will make you wealthy enough to travle the world and give gifts away like they mean nothing.

Why not go there and give them paper for their class room and never mention your faith. If your faith is the "one true faith" then surely it doesn't need this type of coercion.

Or...... you could simply do nothing yourself but ***** about those that volunteer to take bibles, food, clothing, and medicine.The bible is your hang up, not theirs. Quit *****ing, forget the bible, and take food, clothing, and medicine as a volunteer.

Tell that to the native Indians that we stole the land from. From their perspective we probably look like Satan's army.

We probably are Satan's army. I think Christianity is the work of a demon.

Just look at what it causes people to say! That God blessed those who raped the land from the Indians???

That’s a real nice God you have there.

Real convenient. Just claim that heathens don’t count and you can murder, rape and pillage whole civilizations in the name of God. Then when you get rich and powerful just proselytize your bigotry and hatred around the globe trying to convert everyone to your way of thinking.

Sounds like a really compassionate God you have there alright. A demon straight from hell.

As soon as Christians stop proselytizing so will I.

it won't ever happen as long as i'm alive. i swear.

And thus we reach a perfect balance

God is forgiving and merciful. What is more compassionate than forgiving those who do wrong? And what would cursing the decendants of sinners prove? Would that make God compassionate? No, Abra...you have boxed God in so that if he forgives, he's evil. If he punishes, he's evil. If he does nothing, he's evil. The only reason you rebell against God so much isn't that he punishes or shows mercy...it's because God judges and you know in your heart of hearts where you balance hangs.

shaking hands

I agree, we ought to help out wherever we can. And I still think God has his hand on our land. He is a nice God and he sees those problems we think of and understands. Wait on the Lord and do what you can for your fellow human beings on this planet.

Geo.

NICE GOD?

This is insanity. If people would just use common sense & help each other all these religions would vanish. Think of all the time,money & energy that would be freed up to really do some good!

from your mouth to Gods ears

Gideons was a take off of the 1800's American Bible Society. They mainly changed the name in the early 1900's.I have one i ran across dated in the 1800's looks just like Gideons and they were a group who passed out NT's all over. Blessings..Miles

Religion wouldn't vanish. They'd just be better religions. People'd still listen to John Lennon, though.

If people had common sense there would be no religions. It's all crazy. If there was a God why would you accept in worship it? Stop hunger, end war & provide healthcare for all. then maybe I will consider the possability of a superior being in control. I usually avoid these threads but I am sick of stupidity today & havn't unloaded in a while!

Interesting points, Littleredhen. I think we need religion because of the problems that are around. We're not gonna get a complete handle on everything due to the existence of evil and evildoers but religion helps me cope with all the flack, you know? Maybe it'd help you, too, but it's up to you do decide, eh?

Geo.

Sorry for my rudeness Yasha. Like i said I usually avoid this. I deal with things my own way, directly. Last week I fed a hungry family & filled thier gas tank. I figure that makes more sense than praying.

Thank you for doing that! You set a fine example for us to follow. I feel that prayer is important but I am disgusted when I see the vast amounts of money that are poured into beautiful and ornate churches when the money could be spent helping those in need. Is that what Christ intended for His church? I think not.