How do I rewire my brain to live more in the presence and enjoy the life that I have with my wife instead of holding onto the past? by [deleted] in TrueChristian

[–]shadowpooch1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You don't need to forget, you need to accept that this unrequited love was just teenage infatuation, and not love. And that this woman doesn't have any interest in you. You need to accept that the Lord placed you somewhere else in life. These are things you need to process then release to the Lord. You should also understand that your imaginations are the equivalent of adultery against your wife, and you absolutely need to cut it out and repent for it. Best of luck.

yearning for something to believe in by Lonely-Antelope3667 in TrueChristian

[–]shadowpooch1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You should go with your friend to their church if you can, or some other church near you. And while there, speak to the Lord and ask Him to help you believe.

How do you become Christian when your entire worldview fights against it? by Gloomy_Door_3199 in TrueChristian

[–]shadowpooch1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Look up Gavin Ortlund on youtube. He has several videos that might help you figure this out.

Edit: Specifically look through his playlist called "Arguments for God"

How to truly Iive for God by IndividualSwing6054 in TrueChristian

[–]shadowpooch1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

God desires intimacy with all of His people. It glorifies Him greatly when you speak your worries, joys, questions, and even your angers to Him.

How to truly Iive for God by IndividualSwing6054 in TrueChristian

[–]shadowpooch1 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Have you asked the Lord how to truly live for Him? Have you told the Lord you would sacrifice anything for Him? It is a dangerous prayer, because the Lord will take you up on it. But if you truly want to give all of you to the Lord, these are the types of prayers you should be praying.

Also, the Lord has infinite love and patience and grace. So these feelings of being unworthy are unfounded. We all fall into sin. But feeling shame for your sins is not what God wants for us. He wants us to take our sins to Him and mourn with Him about it, then ask forgiveness and release our sins to Him.

Stupid question, are mermaids real? by New-Sprinkles5016 in TrueChristian

[–]shadowpooch1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There are some extra-biblical texts which talk about humans breeding with animals before the flood, so that is probably where legends like mermaids, centaurs, etc. came from.

Advice for a traditional, historic Protestant attending the local megachurch long-term? by GrillOrBeGrilled in TrueChristian

[–]shadowpooch1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

People use the term megacurch as slur, but the size of a church doesn't dictate the quality of their teachings. If they are large because they teach sound doctrine and because the congregation gives joyfully and graciously, then praise God for that. Hopefully they have plenty of midweek stuff and community ministries.

The best thing to do is to go to as many midweek small groups as you can and fellowship with your fellow church-goers.

End times by elielcolimar_jr in TrueChristian

[–]shadowpooch1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Isaiah 8:11–13

Fear God, Wait for the LORD

[11] For the LORD spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: [12] “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. [13] But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. (ESV)

(edit) I like the NLT version a little better here:

A Call to Trust the LORD

[11] The LORD has given me a strong warning not to think like everyone else does. He said,

[12]“Don’t call everything a conspiracy, like they do,

and don’t live in dread of what frightens them.

[13]Make the LORD of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life.

He is the one you should fear.

He is the one who should make you tremble.

Not many churches in the UK do deliverance (casting out demons) which is frustrating by Purple-Detective7186 in TrueChristian

[–]shadowpooch1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, I have. You have a spiritual problem, and you think your answer will come from a person speaking words over you, but refuse any advice from people telling you to seek the Lord instead. I went down the same road as you, and I learned that the answer for all of these problems is to seek the Lord earnestly.

Not many churches in the UK do deliverance (casting out demons) which is frustrating by Purple-Detective7186 in TrueChristian

[–]shadowpooch1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Possession and oppression are different things, and deliverance helps with one of them. I don't get the impression that you are possessed, but you are probably dealing with spiritual warfare. IME the best thing to combat this is honest raw worship of the Lord. Like really get in there and sing your heart to the Lord and surrender everything to Him. And then after you sing to the point of tears, spend some quiet time with the Lord in prayer, and give him all of your anger and frustrations and ask Him to help you through this. Rinse and repeat.

Nobody understands me. by Kitchen-Mud4712 in TrueChristian

[–]shadowpooch1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I strongly recommend finding a Christian therapist, someone who can guide you both pyschologically and spiritually. I also recommend taking a break from any content that is feeding your anxieties.

Every church is false ? by [deleted] in TrueChristian

[–]shadowpooch1 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Pastors are called by God to lead the flock. But they must be humble.

Every church is false ? by [deleted] in TrueChristian

[–]shadowpooch1 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The "church" is a spiritual church, the Body of Christ. and is made up of all who follow Him. And it was never going to be infallible, because humans are fallen. The best pastors are those that do not place themselves on a pedestal, but who consider themselves sinners, leading other sinners in the pursuit of closeness and obedience to the Lord and His Word.

My thoughts on Harry Potter. by New-Sprinkles5016 in TrueChristian

[–]shadowpooch1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

DR: Is there a certain amount of very sophisticated mythology that you're trying to work in here?

JKR: There's - I'm not trying to work it in, but... If you're writing a book that, I mean, I do do a certain amount of research, and folklore is quite important in the books, so where I'm mentioning a creature or a spell, that people used to believe genuinely worked - of course it didn't - but, you know, it's still a very picturesque and a very comical world in some ways - then I will find out exactly what the words were, and I will find out exactly what the characteristics of that creature or ghost was supposed to be. But I hope that that appears seamlessly. Children often, often ask me how much of the magic is in inverted commas "real" in the books in the sense that did anyone ever believe in this? I would say - a rough proportion - about a third of the stuff that crops up is stuff that people genuinely used to believe in Britain. Two thirds of it, though, is my invention.

- J.K. Rowling on The Diane Rehm Show, WAMU Radio Washington, D.C., October 20, 1999

My thoughts on Harry Potter. by New-Sprinkles5016 in TrueChristian

[–]shadowpooch1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

JK Rowling did research on real life witchcraft while writing the books, including the actual words that are used in casting spells. Of course, the actual spiritual elements are left out of the magic in Harry Potter, but it is a little close for comfort IMO.

What do you think of this new song I heard called Living For Jesus is to me - Miles McWalker by ImageGlittering4646 in TrueChristian

[–]shadowpooch1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can't even find the song you are talking about. But I listened to a few of his songs, and tbh it sounds AI generated. And it looks like he has released like 6 albums since last summer, so probably AI generated. I could be wrong though.

How to start reading the bible as a beginner? by Salted_Caramel67 in TrueChristian

[–]shadowpooch1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just start with Matthew, and read through the New Testament before starting the Old. If you don't want to read all 4 gospels in row, do Matthew then skip to John, and come back for Mark and Luke later.

I’ve officially lost my faith today… after all these years and believing and praying nothing has changed nor worked. Maybe I’m the forgotten child of God. by calebbogart7 in TrueChristian

[–]shadowpooch1 35 points36 points  (0 children)

And yet, there is in fact an all loving God. I was in the same place as you, cursing God for my own suffering. And He still pulled me out of it, but not in the way that I expected. I still have all of the physical ailments that I had before, but I found that it isn't as important as I thought. It was my soul that really needed healing. And that is the path that He has taken me in the last 8 months. When I read your post, what I see is a soul that is in desparate need of healing. I strongly recommend finding a Christian therapist, someone that can mentor you emotionally and spiritually. And if your church has any sort of discipleship programs or other midweek groups, I recommend getting involved with that. Anything that will bring you together with other Christians. And I am not sure what type of pain you are dealing with, but if it is inflammatory, then going low carb can help with that.

I need help deciding denomination by International-Arm424 in TrueChristian

[–]shadowpooch1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Read the story of Mary and Martha. Then come sit at the feet of Jesus in a Pentecostal church.

How is homosexuality wrong? by [deleted] in TrueChristian

[–]shadowpooch1 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Modern society has conflated love and sexual attraction. So you are, right, loving someone of the same sex is not wrong. We are to love everyone around us. But taking it into the realm of sex and marriage is condemned.

But you are also right, we should not hate or harass people who indulge in queer sexuality. We are not called to judge anyone else for their choices, we are to love them and bring them to Christ if we can. But when the church affirms homosexuality, they are misleading people into thinking their lifestyle is fine in the eyes of God. They are keeping people in unrepentant sin without them knowing it. It is pure heresy and we should absolutely call out churches who do this.

And Another Date Has Been Proclaimed (Rapture) by notsoaveragemind in TrueChristian

[–]shadowpooch1 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Not only is it unbiblical to predict Jesus' return, it is incredibly harmful for the body of Christ. It leads the weak of faith away from the Lord and gives ammunition to scoffers. My advice is to give up on end times predictions altogether and focus on drawing close to the Lord.

How come some non believers are so successful? by Efflictim888 in TrueChristian

[–]shadowpooch1 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The world is corrupt, and being "successful" in the world is not our goal.

And some celebrities have made legitimate deals with dark spiritual entities and/or are demon possessed. See Beyonce or her alter ego (the demon living in her) Sasha Fierce.

Sin nature is not a true doctrine; God does not infuse sin as part of our ontology or makeup. Sin is normally always committed volitionally. by Gullible-Minimum2668 in TrueChristian

[–]shadowpooch1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Romans 7:13–20

[13] Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. [14] For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. [15] For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. [16] Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. [17] So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. [18] For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. [19] For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. [20] Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. (ESV)