The Fish Club - Christians come and discuss our faith.

[freyme]

Habitat for Humanity is an excellent organization that helps build homes for those that cannot afford them. It is a Christian based organization.

Seeing that your profile says you are a teacher, Compassion International is a group that finds people to financially support impoverished children throughout the world.

Both organizations are well established, reputable, quality organizations.

[Machiavelli]

Anglican,

Thanks for starting this place. Been waiting for something like this.

For me, I was 20 years old. I was in the Marine Corps. at the time, serving in Okinawa, Japan. I believed that the whole Bible thing was a myth created by people who wanted to control others and get their $$.

My sergeant was inspecting my room one day, and struck up a conversation with me about Jesus. I basically told him where he could go (lol). He continued to talk with me over time about the scriptures and challenge me to read them for myself. So, I took him up on the challenge. He bought me a Bible and I read it. On the inside it said, "This Bible will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from this Bible". I still have it in my library today.

About a year later, I finally gave my life to Christ. I have never regretted that decision. God has given me a new life. Before, I would just do whatever I felt like and thought I was happy. But now, I have a purpose and live to serve others. What a great second chance He has given me by changing my heart.

Look forward to hearing others' stories.

How fitting that you have Locke as your avatar.


I think of myself to be more like Jack, but Locke's cool too.

[Caleb the Cruel]

I have always been a Lutheran. Lutheran Church Missouri-Synod(LCMS) to be more accurate. I was baptized as an infant by my grandfather who was an LCMS pastor. My father, uncle, and brother are all ordained LCMS pastors and my sister is working on becoming an LCMS deaconess. Last April, my father baptized his grandson(my brother's son) just like my grandfather baptized his grandchildren. I have attended two different LCMS schools in my childhood. Now most of you would probably say that since I come from a very Christian background, I never had a choice. However that is not true, I was given the choice, at my confirmation time, whether to continue in the Christian faith, or to fall out of it, however I chose to follow the one true faith. I have had my highs and lows as far as spirituality and my relationship with God is concerned. I would say that right now, I am getting out of a dark time I had fallen into(that was showed in some of my past posts). However I am beginning to step out of this darkness and am starting a better relationship with God and am starting to follow His Word better(although I'll never be perfect).

[CrazyAnglican]

I can relate Caleb. I have been a Christian from childhood as well, but I really had a hard time in the last few years. I had a lot of uncertainty in my career, and really had to wonder if I was doing what God intended. I prayed for guidance and invariably something happenend to tell me to stay where I was. I was miserable for a while, but I noticed that God was being faithful. I was continually finding myself in the most difficult situations and being able to show significant growth.

Spiritually, I have to acknowledge a friend for getting me to read the Bible. He will probably be surprised by this since we never discussed it. He is a master of Japanese karate, when talking with him I found out he was getting up a four o'clock every morning to work out. I thought that if he could do that I could as well, I just added the goal of reading a chapter of the Bible everyday and worked that into my routine. I noticed amazing changes in my world and my thinking. I currently have about two hundred pages to go to finish my first reading of the Bible. I've done things that my incredibly shy spirit thought impossible. Witnessing to others, praying publicly for those who ask for it, serving as lector, and Lay Eucharistic Minister, I'm also thinking of using my meager talents as a juggler and magician to visit kids in the hospital. In short I have really felt the spirit guiding me.

[luns101]

How fitting that you have Locke as your avatar.


I think of myself to be more like Jack, but Locke's cool too.

Yeah, I relate to him a lot. Because of the pain he has endured in his life and also because I am close to his age. It seems like almost everyon on that flight has a chance at a 2nd life...which is what I relate to being "born again".

I'm always looking for spiritual truths that are reflected in popular culture. I think the most obvious one was THE MATRIX. I appreciate the previous posts on helping me find organizations where I can use my talents to build houses for people.

Nahum 1:7 - The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows them that trust in Him.

[CrazyAnglican]

Okay,

What spiritual truths are reflected in THE MATRIX? I gotta hear this!

[hourman]

neo die sfor his people just liek jesus.





and luns i love that picture locke is awesome and lost is my favorite shows.

[Jolly Roger]

There is no spoon?

[benmor78]

Okay,

What spiritual truths are reflected in THE MATRIX? I gotta hear this!

That Keanu Reeves is awful. I read a funny article that an acting troupe in the Pacific Northwest that was doing a live performance of Point Break with Keanu Reeves' part played by an amateur reading from cue cards.

[LewisJB3]

I've seen the Matrix once, and I'd say certain points really do sound like certain points in the Bible. If you watch it again sort of picture the main guys as Jesus, it's kind of interesting. I'm not saying it's a great picture, just and interesting way of looking at it.

[Romber]

I have been a christian all my life. I remember asking God into my heart, and I was saved! At the moment, I'm really struggling though. I have developed anxiety and sleep disorders for no reason. Maybe cause of stress but, I know when I go to bed at 10:30pm and can't fall asleep till 2 am, I start to blame God. I realize what I'm doing is a mistake, but it gets very frustrating. I have realized now that it is more of the work of the devil to test my faith, and he almost got me. But all I do is put God number 1 and to seek strength in him-which has worked amazingly

[CrazyAnglican]

Okay I can see that. "Man hath no greater love than to give up his life for his brother" (I'm paraphrasing, I know). Anything else in it?

[red bull]

i dont really see anything in it atleast not like lotr or narnia and also has any one read the screwtape letters ????? another really good book

[CrazyAnglican]

Yes, I love The Screwtape Letters. I've read it a few times and enjoyed it everytime. It's one I couldn't keep in my personal library because I always had it loaned out.

What did you think of it? I thought the idea of writing from the perspective of a demon, in an attempt to show how hard it is for a person to be damned, was fascinating. I like Lewis' idea that it is our small choices everyday that eventually lead us into becoming a creature of Heaven, or not. It's still something that makes me pause from time to time and consider where I am heading in life.

[red bull]

yes i love the book too but the first time i read it i was 14 and did not really understand it all but i have reread it now a hundred times. i personaly like how lewis shows all the temptations they use on us every day and you never think about it and also how frustrated he shows them when we {humans} make the right choice

[killza666jrr]

i belive god kinda... like WTF or good job

[jay_a2j]

Speaking of movies with a good "hidden" message... Bruce Almighty depicts surrendering to Gods will... and I love the part where Bruce asks God, "How do you get someone to love you without effecting free will?" To which he replied, "If you can figure that out, you let me know."

[freyme]

Stick with it Romber. God is always with you.

[Koba]

Firstly, hey, 1st time in this thread.
I've heard that about the matrix too, but then I have also read an article suggesting it would be improved by replacing Keanu Reeves with a plank of wood with an angry face drawn on it, I'm not a fan of the idea it's like the bible, but I can see it.
My mums is an Irish catholic, so I have always been a Christian (which to a certain extent I disagree with). I was and am not the most religous of people, and am not the biggest fan of some aspects of the church.
But, having said that I am interested in philosophy and theology, not that I have done anything about that in a little while. But with a combination of that and talking to my great aunt, who is a nun (especially after my granddad's death) I do believe that there is a God, and in Jesus, and would call myself a Christian, but not necessarily a conventional one.

[LewisJB3]

I would definatly agree that Narnia and lotr are much better pictures than matrix. I haven't read the scrutape letters but I have read Mere Christianity.

[Backglass]

Plus I do hope any of us argumentative hethens don't flame or argue. Definitely respect you're right to this thread at least.

Agree, while I disagree with the views in this thread I respect them. Lets hope hardcore atheists stay out.

Yup agreed. Let hope they stay far, far away. Hallelujah!

[luns101]

Okay, What spiritual truths are reflected in THE MATRIX? I gotta hear this!

Well, perhaps spiritual truths isn't quite right, let me instead use the phrase "Biblical analogy". This is what I got out of it:

Neo = Messiah or Christ-type
Morpheus = John the Baptist
Trinity = this one is obvious
Nebuchadnezzar = the name of Morpheus' ship in the movie, but also the name of the Babylonian king who was humbled by God in the book of Daniel.
Zion = the name of the last human city in the movie, but also the name of one of the hills on which Jerusalem stood.

I read an article in WORLD magazine where the producers of the movie were upset that so many Christians liked the movie and seeing Biblical inferences within it. LOL. Sorry, but I love the movie.

Just read Caleb's post and enjoyed it. Anglican, really wish I could have met Father Fisher. People like that stay with us for our entire lives. Romber, you are not alone brother...we all struggle. I'm coming up with more questions for you guys soon. Gotta go teach and earn my $$.

[CrazyAnglican]

Okay, I can see the biblical allusion in the movie now, and the themes. I can see where if the producers where aiming at one thing and happened to include some of these images by chance that it would be frustrating. But hey, if it brings more people in to see your movie, what the heck.

[Mylittlepuddykat]

I've never seen the MATRIX but Narnia makes me cry every time all I can think of is that "thats what Jesus did for me"

[Backglass]

Well, perhaps spiritual truths isn't quite right, let me instead use the phrase "Biblical analogy".

I think people see what they want to see. The Matrix makes numerous references to historical myths and philosophy including Messianism, Buddhism, Vedanta, Advaita Hinduism, Yoga Vashishta Hinduism, and Gnosticism.

Me? When I saw it, I thought of the The Truman Show...another excellent movie.