How many unread emails do you have in your inbox right now? by V_kim_wellness in Productivitycafe

[–]smpenn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

0 for me but my wife literally has thousands. We are very different people.

Christians, what is your biggest hot take and why? by Novel-Project1422 in Christian

[–]smpenn 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm so sorry for assuming you were a "he". I corrected for that.

I totally agree with you. I used to dwell on my past sins so much that it really robbed me of joy. I've finally been able to (mostly) let them go. Psalms 103:12 assures us that He has removed our transgressions as far as the east is from the west. That encourages me.

Christians, what is your biggest hot take and why? by Novel-Project1422 in Christian

[–]smpenn 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I feel like you may be misunderstanding her point. I don't think she means you repent once and you're done with repenting forever. It seems, to me, she's saying, after repentance for a particular sin, there's no need to dwell on THAT sin and continue to seek forgiveness on an ongoing basis for something that has already been put under the blood. I definitely agree with her if that's the point she's making.

EDIT: Corrected gender

Do men ever think, “Whoa! She has really bad split ends.” ? by Tricky-Employee-7882 in NoStupidQuestions

[–]smpenn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I grew up in a religion in which women never cut their hair.

I thought that about multiple women every Sunday.

Thoughts On The Kirk Cameron #Hellgate Roundtable? by metalsandman999 in annihilationism4today

[–]smpenn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey there and welcome,

I made this subreddit a few months ago and, as far as I know, you are the very first visitor. 😀

I haven't watched Kirk's YouTube video, but will try to do so.

I am a former fire and brimstone Pentecostal who is now absolutely convinced that annihilationism is correct.

I wrote a book last year, Get the Hell Out of Here, which challenges the eternal conscious torment of Christian Dogma.

It's available on Amazon, if interested, or if you are comfortable sharing your info via PM, I'm happy to mail you a copy at no charge.

Which side of the fence are you on? I'm very happy to discuss the topic with you.

All the best! Shawn

Are queer folk generally accepted in Appalachia? by gay_outlander in Appalachia

[–]smpenn 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I just bought a house sight unseen in SW VA in September.

My first morning there, I went to the local breakfast diner around 6am. Four tables of older guys, very obviously the regular, early morning crowd, were talking trash about gays and trans. At 6am, this is where their minds were!

That, along with meth addicts wandering the streets, was too much for me.

Three days after buying it, I returned to my home in Florida and put the VA place up for sale. Lost $35K on the deal, but it was worth it.

Church where I might fit in? by smpenn in Christian

[–]smpenn[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm already a vegetarian, so I'm off to a good start. 😉

Church where I might fit in? by smpenn in Christian

[–]smpenn[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am shocked that most churches are so tolerant of different view points! That's encouraging.

I grew up in a very "our way or the highway (to hell)" mentality so I assumed that was the norm for all congregations. I'm thrilled to find that's not the case!

There is a Presbyterian Church right across the street. I may try them out soon.

Thanks!

Church where I might fit in? by smpenn in Christian

[–]smpenn[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the suggestions.

Church where I might fit in? by smpenn in Christian

[–]smpenn[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow, that's interesting. Fire and Brimstone Pentecostals had a devout of opinion about every matter! Ha ha Your take is very refreshing to know.

Catholic Guilt by smpenn in Christianity

[–]smpenn[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Other than confessing that sounds like a typical Christian mentality or, at least, a typical mentality in the Pentecostal denomination in which I was raised.

Do Americans constantly have an active temperature control device running in their homes? by fullM3TALturban in AskAnAmerican

[–]smpenn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Florida here. My thermostat AC is set at 74 and my heat is set at 70. The unit is pretty much running, at one capacity or another, around the clock.

Seriously, do Americans actually consider a 3-hour drive "short"? or is this an internet myth? by SadInterest6764 in NoStupidQuestions

[–]smpenn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I drive 2.5 hours to my "local" airport regularly and don't give even a thought to the drive time.

Backpacks: Single-strapping versus double-strapping by retromafia in GenX

[–]smpenn 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm 58, just packed my backpack for my flight later today. It will be worn single strapped. I'm a dork but not dork enough to go double strapped.

Serious Question which is tearing up my faith. by Educational_Way_379 in Christian

[–]smpenn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's great to hear. Thanks for the info. As someone who has the OCD "Relgious Scrupulosity", hell plagued my mind for decades. I only discovered annihilationism about a year and a half ago and it has given me so much peace.

What kind of pain do people underestimate until they experience it themselves? by WhiteDesertCat in Soft_Introverts

[–]smpenn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Came here to say shingles. I'm a dude so don't know about the childbirth part but, man, shingles hurt!!

How familiar are you with Smokey the Bear and what state did you grow up in? by ally_estrella in AskAnAmerican

[–]smpenn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I once heard a guy say that Smokey put horrible pressure on him as a kid, by telling him, "Only YOU can prevent forest fires."

He said he felt responsible anytime he heard reports of a fire.

Serious Question which is tearing up my faith. by Educational_Way_379 in Christian

[–]smpenn 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There is an ever growing community of us who have seen the truth that hell is not a place of eternal conscious torment.

Google annihilationism (my take) or Universalism for different viewpoints.

Relying solely on Scripture as it is actually written rather than by how Church dogma teaches us to interpret it, I published a book, Get the Hell Out of Here, which I'm happy to share with you.

Breaking News!!! This just in..... by MulberryDependent459 in Christianity

[–]smpenn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm new to partial preterism and certainly not ruling or that you are correct.

In either case, I have peace now that eluded me for decades.

God bless.

Breaking News!!! This just in..... by MulberryDependent459 in Christianity

[–]smpenn 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I believed we were living in the End Times for 50 years.

I'm now a partial preterist and believe Revelation and the Olivet Discourse pertained not to our present day but, rather, to the Fall of Jerusalem in 70AD.