- - Eyes2Jesus - -

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. -Romans 12:2 NIV 2011
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. -Eph. 6:12 NIV 2011
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Some Basics
How to be Born Again
Picking a Bible Version
Do Only Men Go To Heaven?
Power in the Blood Bible Study
Dates of Christ's Birth, Death, and Resurrection Life Altering: Diatribe Style

Through The Bible
Isaiah
Daniel
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Revelation

Christian Ladies
A Day in the Life of Me
Do Only Men Go To Heaven?
Are Women Allowed to Preach, and are They Supposed to Submit to Men?
Head Covering
Is it Okay for Christian Women to Wear Pants?
Can Women Teach the Bible?
The Samaritan Woman Preacher
Women Preachers, Rise Up!
Scriptures for Women in the Ministry

Revealed Deceptions
Church Membership
Why There are Cults
Mystery Babylon Revealed
Torah vs. Grace

Are You a Sabbath Keeper?
The Revelation 4:1 Deception
Pre-Trib Rapture Deception
Vatican vs. God
Counterfeit Christianity
The Black Thread
Jehovah's Witnesses
More J.W.s at my Door
Scriptures for J.W.s
Homosexuality

Holiday Truths
The TRUTH About Romans 14 and Colossians 2
Demons and False Gods of the Holidays
Joining the Holy Guild Fellowship
"Saint" Patrick's Day
Independance Day?
Remembering Christ's Death
There is no "Good Friday"
The Ishtar Deception
Easter is Pagan
Don't be an April Fool
Halloween Truth
Election Day
Thanksgiving
The Bible Says When Jesus was Born
The Real Christmas Story
Christmas is not Christian
Scriptures About Christmas
The True Christmas Spirit
Happy New Year
Holidays and Romans 14

Eschatology
Angel and Trumpet
2 Thess. 2 Truth
The Rapture: Did You Know?
The Revelation 4:1 Deception
What About the Wrath of God?
Pre-Trib Rapture Deception
Revelation Revealed
And Took Them All Away
A Matthew 24 Parallel
The 7 Thunders
When is the Rapture, and When is the Second Coming?

Science
How God Created Everything
A Multiple Universe Paradox
Time and Our Perception of It
How Many Saved People are There?
The DNA of Angels
Neuroplasticity, Personality, and Epigenetics
Thoughts That Transcend Dimensions

More Bible Studies
YLT vs KJV
The Gender of God
Divisive Christians
Loving the Brethren
Compassion, or Hell Fire?
Corinthians Controversy
Can Women Teach the Bible?
Pastoral Authority?
Can You Lose Your Salvation?
Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Faith and Works
The 'cations of Scripture
Putting the Sabbath to Rest
Simply Shunning
Children's Church
Legalism and Legalism
Tithes and Offerings
Watch What You Say/Write
Scriptural Prayer
War: Flesh vs. Mind
Oil and Lamps
Blurred Distinctions
Christian Pacifism?

Angels, Aliens, Demons, and More
The DNA of Angels
Demons Behind False Gods
The Nephilim and Rephaim
Are You Practicing Witchcraft?
Angels, Aliens, Pyramids, etc.
What Demons Are
Beings: Hollow Earth and Outer Space
Three Hells and Three Heavens
The Truth About Aliens
Dragons, Spaceships, Aliens

Home and Family
Cleaning Routines
Emergency Quick Clean
Messy House Rescue
Homemade Cleaning Solution
Planner University
Your Schedule
Sample Schedules
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Children Sitting Well in Church
What is the Trivium?
Homeschool Plan With Me
Simplicity and Survival

Health
Perimenopause and Menorrhagia
How to Lose Weight

Recipes
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Basic White Bread
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BREAKFASTS
Chia Seed Pudding
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SUPPERS
Homemade Pizza
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Chicken and Dumplings
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Creamy Potato Soup
Black Bean Burgers
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Crock Pot Chili
Baked Chicken Breasts
Baked Swai Fish
OTHER
Jam
SPECIAL
Cranberry Cobbler
Russian Apple Pie






The Church Shopping Chronicles, Part 4

As per an online friend's suggestion, we began to look for a Family Integrated Church, and we found one, not too far away from us. I was hurt from being kicked out of our last church, so I figured I'd put all the cards out on the table, before becoming attached to another church. I emailed who seemed to be the main elder (they had preaching elders). I laid out a list of doctrinal differences I'd probably have with their church. They were a Southern Baptist Family Integrated church, so I knew they'd have a lot of the Baptist doctrines. I also let him know that I am dresses only, homeschool, and cover my head.

He replied back that just as long as I wasn't going to cause trouble at church, or argue with people, I was welcome. He said that I would not be the only dresses only, head covering woman, as that were were several there already, and that almost every family there homeschools. YES!

The kids and I visited the first time without my husband, because he was called into work. As I pulled the large vehicle I was driving into the parking lot, I looked at the other cars pulling in. Most of them were large like mine, and most of the families had four or more kids, like us. WoW!

I really enjoyed the church services, and some of the ladies there came up and spoke to me. We spoke of kombucha scobies, various types of kefir and starters, homemade sourdough bread, etc. These are things that the ladies at the other churches usually didn't know about. In fact, many ladies at the other churches didn't even cook at all. I felt like I finally found my church home.

There were no problems with our not celebrating Christmas, etc. In fact, about 1/3 or more of the church attendance didn't, either. There were no big Christmas cantatas pushed, no advent, no caroling, no baloney. It was NICE for a change. It was a breath of fresh air. It was a church we could attend year round, and not have to take December away.

However, I have Aspergers. If you don't know what that is, it is a form of high functioning autism. This means that I can come across as "off" in social situations, and this was a VERY social church. None of the preaching elders ever introduced themselves to my children and I, nor did they the next week when my husband attended for the first time. Nor did they ever speak to us in person, until over a year after we'd been attending...

After going for over a year, the elders decided to do Advent for the first time at that church. There were a lot of upset people in church, but I didn't see anyone addressing that issue with any of the preaching elders. I felt weird going up to them, because none of them ever spoke to any of us, so I decided to email the elder that I originally emailed, about the issue.

To my surprise, he emailed back that my family and all the preaching elders should meet at a restaurant and have a meeting. FABULOUS! This was the first and only time the elders ever spoke to us in person. They barraged us with Scriptures that were WRONG. I mean, as in if they would just read two verses further, they'd see they were butchering the passage. Every time I tried to interject, and say anything, I was shushed, and interrupted. My husband was finding this strange, and was not sure what to do. Further, he saw this as more of something that was supposed to be them and I discussing, since I was the one who brought it up. He wasn't prepared to discuss it much. I thought the same thing. THEN, they brought out Ephesians 4:32, and said that I was an unkind person, and that that's the real issue.

WHAT?!!!! That blew both my husband and I away. Why in the world would they think that, when this is the first time they've ever spoken to us, and I got along just fine with the congregants. Our family even got together with some of the other families outside of church, for fun and fellowship. There's never been any problems with even one person.

I promptly emailed them my response to everything they said, as soon as I got home, because I literally was not allowed to speak, and my husband's jaw was pretty much on the ground in shock the whole time. Right after the meeting, they immediately left, and I started crying. Now, if you know me, then you've probably never seen me cry. I hate crying. I don't like it getting my face wet, I don't like it clogging my nose, and I'm not much for "negative" emotional display. But my heart was shattered. How in the world could they think I'm mean? I am never intentionally mean to anyone. I tried it twice in my childhood, and hated it. I picked on a kid once, who always smelled like pee, and I tried picking on a girl once, in girl scout camp. I learned early on that I hated being mean to people, and decided I would never do it again, and I never have.

The rest of the conversations with the elders were 100% via email. They avoided us in church. In the emails, they told me that I wasn't making proper eye contact, wasn't socializing properly with the women, spoke too much with the men, was too harsh, etc. I tried to explain to them that I have Aspergers, and am trying my best, and they passed that off as some excuse. I then asked if one of them could then please help me, by sitting with me at church, being at my side during fellowship meals, etc, and explain things to me, answer my questions, tell me what I'm doing wrong, what I'm doing right, and why, and better explain to me how they think I'm socializing wrong, and how they think I should do it right. None of the elders wanted to do that.

Eventually, they emailed me, and said that until I apologize, I'm never to return to that church, or email any of them again, and if I show up, they'll call the police. They said the only email or communication they'd accept from me was an apology.

What did I do wrong??? I refuse to in-authentically apologize. If I've done wrong, and I know I've done wrong, I apologize. But if I don't know of any wrong doing, then I can't apologize, because I don't even know what in the world is going on, and I won't do it, just to do it. That's lying.

A few weeks later, some of the men from the church were told by the elders to set up a meeting with my husband. I was 100% against this, because I was not invited, and my husband was specifically told that I could not come. I didn't want my husband to go, because I wasn't invited, and I'm the one they had the problem with, not him. He really wanted to know what they had to say, so he went. I sat out in the parking lot.

Now I know why I was always hushed by the elders, and why I was not allowed to attend that meeting. They were ultra-patriarchal. I mean to the point of a cult and legalism. I'm a woman, so under their point of view, I should have never emailed the eldership, nor had an opinion of my own, and if I did, I was supposed to keep it to myself. They told my husband that he needed to get his wife in order.

This is NOT in the Bible! In fact, 1 Peter 3:7 says that if husbands treat their wives like that, their prayers will be hindered!

They ended the meeting by asking him what he'd require for reconciliation. He said he'd have to think about it, and would email them his response.

We realized that they were asking the wrong person. They should have asked ME, what I required for reconciliation. I'm the one the elders had the issue with, and I'm the one who was kicked out of church, not my husband.

My husband emailed them, stating that in order to reconcile, the first step is to ask ME what it would take, since I'm the one they had the problem with. They never responded, or contacted us again.

I kept reading over all the emails that had passed between the elders and I. Emails that I usually read to my husband before I sent, however he didn't require that, because he trusts me, as a sister in Christ. I could not find any instance where I was mean, and I was certainly never mean in person to anyone there, that I honestly have any inkling of.

Then, the Lord, clear as day, told me "Candy, you did nothing wrong." What a release of burden. What a literal weight lifted from my chest. I didn't do anything wrong. God Himself told me so. Praise God, because I needed that clarification. I was beating myself up, trying to figure this whole thing out.

The Lord revealed to me that that was a dying church, and that the eldership were driving multiple people out, not just me. The Lord gave me a Scripture to share with the eldership, and I shared it in my goodbye email to them. That scripture is the following:

"For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" -1 Peter 4:17

I told them that their church was going to go under, unless they repented, and started truly seeking the Lord's will again. They didn't heed the warning, and that church is gone, now.

That was the second church I've been kicked out of. I was kicked out of the first, because I believe in mid-trib rapture and was writing about that on my blog. As far as I can tell, I was kicked out of the second church, because I'm on the Autism spectrum.

The next installment in this series should be up, tomorrow.


Build Your Foundation on the Rock of Salvation

"It’s like a person building a house by digging deep and laying the foundation on bedrock. When the flood came, the rising water smashed against that house, but the water couldn’t shake the house because it was well built. 49 But those who don’t put into practice what they hear are like a person who built a house without a foundation. The floodwater smashed against it and it collapsed instantly. It was completely destroyed." -Luke 6:48-49 CEB

"The Lord lives! Bless God, my rock! Let my God, the rock of my salvation, be lifted high!" -2 Samuel 22:47 CEB

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." -John 8:32 CEB

"Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." -John 14:6 CEB

The terms "Christian" and "personal relationship with Jesus Christ" have been thrown around so much, that for many people, they have lost their original savor. What is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Is it going to church? Is it being a "good person?" Is it via doing certain rituals, or following certain traditions? No, it is so much simpler than that.

Jesus says:

"Look! I’m standing at the door and knocking. If any hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to be with them, and will have dinner with them, and they will have dinner with me." -Revelation 3:20 CEB

Let Jesus into your heart and life. Put your faith and trust in Him, and in Him alone.

Why did Jesus Christ come to this earth? He came to pay for our sins. Have you ever broken any of the Ten Commandments? Did you know that Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount that just looking at someone with lust in your heart is the same thing as committing adultery in your heart?

Many people will say I'm a good person. Sure, I've stolen a few paper clips in my time, and I've told some lies, but I've never killed anyone, so I'm good enough for heaven. Don't be so sure. Have you ever felt hatred toward someone? If so, then you are guilty of committing murder in your heart:

"Everyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that murderers don’t have eternal life residing in them." -1 John 3:15 CEB

If you have stolen, lied, lusted after someone, hated someone, loved someone or something more than God, etc., then you have broken at least 5 of the Ten Commandments. Do you really think you'd make it to heaven? Not according to God's Word:

"Don’t you know that people who are unjust won’t inherit God’s kingdom? Don’t be deceived. Those who are sexually immoral, those who worship false gods, adulterers, both participants in same-sex intercourse, thieves, the greedy, drunks, abusive people, and swindlers won’t inherit God’s kingdom." -1 Corinthians 6:9-10 CEB

But there is good news:

"That is what some of you used to be! But you were washed clean, you were made holy to God, and you were made right with God in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God." -1 Corinthians 6:11 CEB

We are all sinners:

"All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory" -Romans 3:23 CEB

Even Mary, the woman chosen by God to be a vessel that would carry Jesus in her womb, was a sinner, and in need of a Savior:

"In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior." - Mary said this in Luke 1:47 (CEB). Only sinners need a Savior, and Mary also accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior.

We are all imperfect, fallible sinners:

"This is the message that we have heard from him and announce to you: “God is light and there is no darkness in him at all.” If we claim, “We have fellowship with him,” and live in the darkness, we are lying and do not act truthfully. But if we live in the light in the same way as he is in the light, we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin. If we claim, “We don’t have any sin,” we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." -1 John 1:5-8 CEB

The blood of Jesus Christ is what cleanses us from all sins. Jesus came to this earth to die to pay for our sins. You see, Leviticus tells us that 'the life is in the blood,' and that it takes spilt blood to atone for sin.

When we choose to truly believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and to live our lives for Christ, then Christ's spilt blood cleanses us from our sins:

"Come now, and let’s settle this, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be white as snow. If they are red as crimson, they will become like wool." -Isaiah 1:18 CEB

Jesus tells us this:

"God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life. God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him isn’t judged; whoever doesn’t believe in him is already judged, because they don’t believe in the name of God’s only Son." - Jesus said this, in John 3:16-18 (CEB)

Paul gives us a simple "step by step process" on how to be saved:

"Because if you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and in your heart you have faith that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Trusting with the heart leads to righteousness, and confessing with the mouth leads to salvation. The scripture says, All who have faith in him won’t be put to shame." -Romans 10:9-11 CEB

Jesus is our one and only mediator:

"There is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, the human Christ Jesus" -1 Timothy 2:5 CEB

Jesus is our High Priest:

"Also, let’s hold on to the confession since we have a great high priest who passed through the heavens, who is Jesus, God’s Son; because we don’t have a high priest who can’t sympathize with our weaknesses but instead one who was tempted in every way that we are, except without sin." -Hebrews 4:14-15 CEB

We are to follow the Lord and the Bible, not traditions of people:

"Jesus replied, “Why do you break the command of God by keeping the rules handed down to you?" -Matthew 15:3 CEB

Jesus is God:

"Without question, the mystery of godliness is great: he was revealed as a human, declared righteous by the Spirit, seen by angels, preached throughout the nations, believed in around the world, and taken up in glory." -1 Timothy 3:16 CEB

If Jesus isn't the Lord of your life, then I hope that you will let Him into your heart and life this very moment.

"But God shows his love for us, because while we were still sinners Christ died for us." -Romans 5:8 CEB

Have you built your foundation on the Rock of Salvation?

Jesus is the way. If you would like to receive Jesus into your heart and life, then let Him know. Pray to the Lord, telling Him that you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and that you believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay the death penalty for your sins. Tell this to God in your own words, from your heart.

"The wages that sin pays are death, but God’s gift is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 6:23 CEB

Believe, and Receive:

"You too heard the word of truth in Christ, which is the good news of your salvation. You were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit because you believed in Christ." -Ephesians 1:13 CEB

When you believe on Jesus Christ, you receive the Holy Spirit. You are sealed as a child of God.

If you have accepted Jesus Christ into your heart and life as your Lord and Savior, and you believe that Jesus died on the cross in your place, to pay the death penalty for your sins, and that Christ rose from the dead three days later, and you are ready to let Him lead your life, and you will live for Him, then you are saved, and born again.

You are now a saved Child of God, with the Holy Spirit living within you. Dedicate your life to the Lord, and live for Him. Please get a Bible (I suggest the Common English Bible - CEB) and turn to the Gospel of John. That is the fourth book in the New Testament. If you don't have a Bible, then you can read it for free, online - here.

After you've read the Gospel of John, go on to read Acts, and then Romans. These three books will bring you through the Gospel, the early church, and basic Christian doctrine. After you've read these three, then turn to the beginning of the New Testament, and read it all the way through. After that, read both the Old and New Testaments.

You should also follow the Lord and get baptized in water. A Believer's Baptism doesn't save you. Only faith in Christ saves you. A Believer's Baptism is an outward showing of your salvation. It symbolizes you being born again. When you are lowered under the water, it shows you dying to your old self, and when you are raised up out of the water, it symbolizes you being born again, as a new creature in Christ. This is called a Believer's Baptism, because, according to the Bible, a person is supposed to get baptized after they have believed on Christ. Anyone who was "baptized" before having faith in Christ just got wet - nothing more. You don't need to find a church to get baptized in. Any born again Christian can baptize you in any acceptable body of water - even a public swimming pool.

Find a good, local church congregation to attend. Search in your area for a Nazarene church, Foursquare church, or non-denominational Full-Gospel church.

Immerse yourself in the Bible. The Bible is God's love letter to you. It is also your Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.

2024+ Reading List

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The Unfettered Word

The List:

The Making of Biblical Womanhood

What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause

The Bible vs. Biblical Womanhood

Unveiling Paul's Women

The Unfettered Word

Textual Criticism of the Bible

The Great Sex Rescue

Tell Her Story

Reverse Time Travel

A Quantum Case for God

Hidden in Plain Sight 3

The Lost Realms

When Time Began

Giants on the Earth

Cosmic Code

The Revelation Explained

Enquire Within Upon Everything

The End of Days

Frankenstein

When Angels Fell

The Einstein Theory of Relativity

Following the Equator

Why Does he do That?

The Witness of the Stars

Charlotte Bronte and her Circle

The Five Giants

The Mysteries of Udolpho

Tales of Giants from Brazil

A Little Bit of Everything for Dummies

The Giants from Outer Space

Essential Oils: Natural Remedies for Your Family

The Giant's Robe

The Art of War

The Giant of the North Pokings Around the Pole

Nikola Tesla: Imagination and the Man That Invented the 20th Century

The Secret of the Island

Cleopatra

The Beautiful and Damned

Experiments With Alternate Currents Of High Potential And High Frequency

Hide in Plain Sight

The Symbolism of Freemasonry

The Chimes

The Cricket on the Hearth

Dred: A Tale of the Great Dismal Swamp

Number in Scripture

The Island of Doctor Moreau

Martin Chuzzlewit

The Mysterious Island

The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Nicholas Nickleby

Bleak House

The Old Curiosity Shop

Our Mutual Friend

Pink and White Tyranny

Crime and Punishment

The Secret

Twelve Stories and a Dream

The Uncommercial Traveller

Master Zacharius

The World Set Free

A Drama in the Air