The people that come to my church are brand new christians. So I start with the basics. Faith is something we talk about. What does faith mean to you?

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2003

Answers

In Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things not seen. So when you pray you have to believe that you have received them. In other words you got to beleive that you got them before you get it, when you pray. So faith takes the place of things that you hope for until it arrives. Like in other words, your faith is like a check, you have a check that says $500.00. You don't have that $500.00 until you go to the bank. Jesus always says"Matthew 9:29 According to you faith be it unto you." Not according to his power.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2003

There is a song with words that say "If the Lord said you can count on it. Believe just what He says."

The other morning I woke up with the scripture I Cor. 2 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

And a thought came to me "That that has been concealed is now revealed."

Faith allows me to believe and look for that which has been promised to me. Even when I don't see, it. If I find it in the Word for me, I can count on it.

In Christ, Carmen

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2003

What is so good aBOUT FAITH? WAS IT FAITH FOR MYCOUSIN TO DIE?

-- Anonymous, March 03, 2003

Sister April please accept my sincere condolences on your loss. Sis April's post truly illuminates the problem with a literal approach to the scripture. We need to seriously pray and reflect on the theological implications of providing a scripture as an answer to any problem in life. The scriptures do indeed point us in a certain direction and they are very useful to give us a perspective on Jesus Christ. But we must go deep with our people. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen, should not be given to someone in a vacuum. I urge those of you who are clergy to spend as much time on the reflection as you do on the snappy lines in your sermon. We need to know more about the liberating power of Jesus Christ and what it really means to live a life of faith. It is more than just believing that he lived, died and rose again. You know it and I know it.

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2003