Hi everyone

[Obara Sands]

Hello, I'm Peter, I'm from Mexico, I made my decision for Jesus Christ when I was 6 while watching the movie of Jesus and knew that He was the only way to get to the Father above.
My favorite part of the Bible is in the first chapter of James, and how it teaches to resist the temptation.
I hope to learn a lot here!
Blessings

[Mary Etheldreda]

Re: Hi everyone

Hello dear, and welcome to our friendly forums! How exciting to "meet" someone from such exotic lands! Is it dangerous to raise your children to believe in the Bible when surrounded by such pagan superstition?

[Obara Sands]

Re: Hi everyone

I'm single at the moment, so I have no children, it is a bit dangerous in the country... in the northern parts of the country (closest to the US border) is even harder. The drug dealing cartels have a lot of power there. Here in the southern part of Mexico they are more subtle, yet there are some things happening here (a friend's mother was kidnapped 2 months ago... and she returned safely with nothing but nightmares and a broken nose, and some waiters were kidnapped a week or two ago).

Religion is a big trouble here, people attached to their traditions and not wanting to know anything from their true savior... choosing mary or the "holy death" (another Idol that was fancied by the drug cartels and now is running wild along the country). and yet the church is growing! there are missions on the poorest parts of the region (the region is a valley, which is around 3 states in mexico), and the church's objective is to go and preach the communities about Jesus and to teach about the word to those who have made a decision to follow Jesus.

It's hard but we are praying and we are still here.

[Obara Sands]

Re: Hi everyone

Hello dear, and welcome to our friendly forums! How exciting to "meet" someone from such exotic lands! Is it dangerous to raise your children to believe in the Bible when surrounded by such pagan superstition?

People from the US that come here do say that this is a beautiful place (Lots of mountains, green fields, corn fields which are huge [this is an agricultural zone]), but I wouldn't call it exotic, I would save that to other zones of Mexico with a lot of history, or with such buildings that are breathtaking!

[Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson]

Re: Hi everyone

What church do you attend? What is your favorite verse, sir?

[Alvin Moss]

Re: Hi everyone

some waiters were kidnapped a week or two ago.

What would they want with waiters?

Welcome to you then, Obara Sands. we encourage foreigners and others to come here for fellowship with real American Christians. God knows there are few Christians in Mexico to act as role models for you people. We are overjoyed to be able to fill the void.

Do tell us of your travails. We know it is hard to be a Christian in a papist wasteland like Mexico.

God Bless!

[Faith_Machine]

Re: Hi everyone

Obama Sands? What a funny name. Anyway, welcome aboard, amigo. I'm glad you understand the only way to know God is through Jesus, as that reduces the likelihood that you're a Catholic.

[Obara Sands]

Re: Hi everyone

To answer Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson: The church is called "Evangelic center of Rio blanco". Rio Blanco (or White River to refer to the name of the city) is a city next to mine. My favorite

James 1:1-6King James Version (KJV)
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

we have around 400 members, and a crew of about 30 fellow brothers that "go up to the mountains" to preach the gospel to several places around the valley of Orizaba and Rio blanco.

To answer Alvin Moss:

I don't think I can answer what those guys wanted with those waiters... but they appeared dead a few days ago... so no one will know... it was just an example to say that is very unsafe right now to go around at night or stuff.
I don't know if you mean that is a figuratively "wasteland" or a literal "wasteland", but I live in a zone not like the one someone would think of mexico (it's not deserts and cacti but green grass and tall trees all around).

And yes... it is a catholic country all around... but things are changing... slow but sure... and the zone all around is seeing people turning their lives to Jesus

[Basilissa]

Re: Hi everyone

And yes... it is a catholic country all around... but things are changing... slow but sure... and the zone all around is seeing people turning their lives to Jesus

That's great news! By introducing true Christian faith to these Catholic Mexicans, you are helping to turn neighbor against neighbor, son against his father, breaking traditional communities.

Obviously, this is exactly what Jesus wants:

Matthew 10:34-35
34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

Incidentally, this is also what the elites and multinational corporations also want (finding it easier to control resources when masses are divided), but I guess their gain is just a byproduct of fulfilling God's Will.

[Obara Sands]

Re: Hi everyone

That's great news! By introducing true Christian faith to these Catholic Mexicans, you are helping to turn neighbor against neighbor, son against his father, breaking traditional communities.

Obviously, this is exactly what Jesus wants:

Matthew 10:34-35
34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

Incidentally, this is also what the elites and multinational corporations also want (finding it easier to control resources when masses are divided), but I guess their gain is just a byproduct of fulfilling God's Will.

I do believe that is a consequence of what is being done, and of course it happens when someone finds the faith in Jesus and is despised by his family. but I'll take in mind what Jesus told us to do in Matthew 28: 18-20

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

[Des]

Re: Hi everyone

Hello and greetings. When does Obama have you scheduled for relocation into America? Is he planning on bringing in all the cartel members and their families first, or are they just going from village to village, rounding you up, and bringing you across the border to be given welfare checks and register you as Democrats?

[Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson]

Re: Hi everyone

Praying for the conversion of Mexico to good, proper Bible-obeying, God-fearing Christians.

[Basilissa]

Re: Hi everyone

I do believe that is a consequence of what is being done, and of course it happens when someone finds the faith in Jesus and is despised by his family.

Of course. And, obviously, the despise goes both ways, because those who found Jesus know that everybody else is going to Hell:

John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

I mean, those who have never heard of Jesus have a good excuse to go to Hell, but everybody else - heck, if they have heard the Good News and rejected them, they deserve double Hell than the other heathens!

but I'll take in mind what Jesus told us to do in Matthew 28: 18-20

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Amen!

I think we should feel good for trying to save other people, even though we know that most of them won't listen:

Matthew 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

God does not give second chances to unrepentant sinners!!

[Obara Sands]

Re: Hi everyone

Hello and greetings. When does Obama have you scheduled for relocation into America? Is he planning on bringing in all the cartel members and their families first, or are they just going from village to village, rounding you up, and bringing you across the border to be given welfare checks and register you as Democrats?

Well Des, Obama has no interest in moving any of my fellow brothers at church to the US... the cartel members of any drug cartel have their own meanings to move their members and stuff... so I lack any sort of info about it...
and the preaching of the gospel in this part of the world is as important as in anywhere else... therefore it is not an option to go across the border and live in the US... there is just a lot to do!

therefore there is no reason no be part of a political party when I can't visit the place where such party is operating... but I think it would be nice for someone of your church or your community to visit and help for a week or so in here (at summer some brother from the US come to bring some aid to the communities like bringing dentists and doctors and preaching the gospel at the same time), you guys would be most welcome!

[Obara Sands]

Re: Hi everyone

Of course. And, obviously, the despise goes both ways, because those who found Jesus know that everybody else is going to Hell:

John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

I mean, those who have never heard of Jesus have a good excuse to go to Hell, but everybody else - heck, if they have heard the Good News and rejected them, they deserve double Hell than the other heathens!

Amen!

I think we should feel good for trying to save other people, even though we know that most of them won't listen:

Matthew 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

God does not give second chances to unrepentant sinners!!

I find hard to despise people that are blinded to the truth... I can only pray that God may have mercy on them one day.

There is no excuse to avoid hell... in Romans 2:12-16 says:
12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another

16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

as you say the way is narrow and many will not accept Jesus as their savior... but that makes it even more important to preach to as many people as we can