u/CognisantCognizant71

Hello Ask A Christian,

I am going through some personal belief change concerning some traditional doctrines held by the church including the Trinity. To best explain, please read this brief excerpt from the group, Jews for Jesus.

In Messianic Jewish theology, while the terms "Trinity" and "triunity" are often used interchangeably to describe God as one Being in three persons, "triunity" or "complex unity" is preferred to emphasize compatibility with Hebrew scripture's affirmation of God as one (

). The distinction is largely semantic and strategic: "Trinity" can mistakenly suggest polytheism, whereas "triunity" highlights a compound unity that aligns with Jewish tradition.

Jews for Jesus (+1) -

I am not Jewish by nationality but do practice some of the tennets which has been a boost to my own faith walk. I find this view shared with you, to be an acceptable compromise between two faiths who in early times were one faith.

Can you in turn recommend a subgroup here, whose members may share a similar viewpoint and blend both Jewish spirituality and Christian spirituality?

I tried another subgroup here but fail to understand just what one is allowed to post.

Thank you.

Are there other explanations for mansions in John chapter 14 besides heavenly dwellings for those who by faith trust in Jesus as Savior?

Hello,

I wonder, what is scholarly opinion concerningh the meaning of 'mansions' in John chapter 14?

"In my Father's house are many mansions."

This seems often alluded to as comfort to the bereaved in sermons delivered at a funeral or celebration of life. It seems implied that the one who has passed has gone to heaven and is now residing in their mansion that God has prepared for them. I tend to think there are other explanations for mansion such as theological opinions, civic opinions, races of humanity, and so on.

Thanks for this group!

Would you expand this into a longer tale or leave as is?

Excerpt: Descent Into Darkness
My short-term memory is of the past couple of days. It begins on a Monday evening, concluding in the bowels of darkness this Wednesday. It begins with scolding my two twin sons at home as we finish a dinner of something with meatballs.

Library

Gloaming is occurring outside the walls of this six-story, spacious, unquestionably silent public library. The hum from the old fluorescent lights has steadily intensified in volume; the sun moved further westward. Intensity of darkness peaks, or seems to peak, over the next half hour.

The aisles feel like a corn maze in the midst of summer. Aluminum shelves stacked with piles of books are on either side of me as I roam through this section of the possibly forbidden.

Each title and what it conveys seems to touch my sides, my hands, my legs, and my entire musculoskeletal system as I gaze at them in passing. Love betrayed, love accepted, emotions toyed with, moans and cursing, honeymoons and separations. These feel like hands reaching out to pull at me, pull me in, ultimately inducing suffocation.

A sensory overload threatens to do me in. Is this my reward for spending hours of research on comparing and contrasting the effects of spirituality and pornography on the human person?

What have I left behind to now confront? This confusion, disorder, non-physical harassment by the damned?

Taunts by the bedeviled are heard as I pass them. Dimming vision induces partial blindness. The silence and hum of the lights increase. My shortness of breath has brought on acute anxiety.

I feel my entire body, mind, soul, have become incurably dirty. This genre of eroticism seduces and now threatens to overdo any preexisting calm, order, or derived conclusion.

I then hear a group of children sing a Spiritual, “Jesus Loves Me.” As the words offer another sensation, a segment of the damned starts to approach me. These are historically known academics, scientists, agnostics, and devout atheists. They hold not shovels, rakes, pitch-forks, knives, or stilettos, but voices of allegation, accusation, and indictment. The volumes of the two opposing collectives are equal but increase to match one another. Altogether, the damned peel in sarcastic laughter to challenge the whole idea that a Messiah would bother with anyone whatsoever.

In minutes, I am surrounded by four gorgeous female demoniacs. To the eye, they are quite attractive, the sound of their voices inviting and seductive. One takes both my hands in hers.

“Oh, hush, audience of worshippers and singers alike. I am in charge of this ceremony and claim this sinner for myself and feminine demons! Altogether, they repeatedly say, “Mine, mine, mine, mine, mine.”

End

I am relatively new to this sub-group but wonder if it is more preferred people share story excerpts that are perhaps 1,000 words maximum, as opposed to something under 5,000 words?

I notice some will post a link to their piece via GDocs. Preferred presentation is what my question is basically? Thanks in advance

Hello, First time here, but recommended.

Looking for general feedback on this second revision:

Love Love Me Do

CognisantCognizant71

Words 984

On a recent afternoon – I heard my cellphone beep incessantly. At the time, my focus was on writing monthly patient progress notes. A long sigh passed through my pursed lips. Was the caller’s (putting it politely) intentionally annoying, bothersome, irksome message really that vital?

Picking up my phone, the message read one short sentence,

“Love Love Me Do.”

The signature on the message was a user name familiar to me on a social media site. I chuckled to myself, “Some people have a lot of nerve.”

Immediately,, my attention turned from progress notes to making progress on clearing the old stuff from my cellphone. I then completed the patient progress notes; I started a Purchase Order for six tickets for facility residents to attend a local Minor League Baseball game. I had been the facility recreation therapist for nearly three years.

One week later, at the same time, a second set of messages came to my mobile device. I was in the middle of completing a required survey by the state on support for activity therapy.

Once again repeated beeps left me with the familiar annoying, irksome, feelings as before. In haste I read,

“Because, I Love You.”

Should I ignore this? Should I send back a sarcastic, snarky response? I could be good at combining snarky and sarcastic when desired. Instead, “Say A Little Prayer for Me.”

Again, I took the opportunity to delete all and start afresh with a clean iPhone showing no messages, no texts, no notifications. Hallelujah!

 

A couple days passed. Whether someone said a prayer for me or not went unsaid. Life continued as it had done so for my past three decades. Moments of awake and perky, fatigue and tired, alone or lonely, festive or free-spirited, continued. More immediate, I worked Saturdays at a supermarket’s bakery, played tennis with a couple friends, and dated on occasion. My criteria for Miss Right may have been high by some standards, but far better going without than relationship wrecks peers were experiencing around me.

On the same week day afternoon, one week later, same time, the third text message appeared on my phone. I was snacking away so picked up and read the following,

“I am praying you will be mine. An old hymn admits, I need you every hour.”

Worry started to occur on my part. This user name person is getting weird, too vulnerable, borderline stalky.

To my knowledge, his information about me was limited, or was it?

He had my phone number, likely knew my name, didn’t know where I worked or my exact age. Of course, the persistent is usually rewarded for their efforts. I hoped limitation was in place concerning myself and well-being. Time may tell was my conclusion.

Week four, the pattern changed. Instead of the weekly message, he tried a new tactic, sending parcels. The box of chocolates was first, which I shared with the facility staff.

“Got a new guy in your life?” my supervisor asked.

“No,” I said sheepishly,. Adding, “I picked these up on a whim last evening. It’s nice to think of one’s work family sometimes.”

Week five was a gift certificate for $25 to a nearby department store.  

The next week, (a bit odd) were a pair of tickets to see the production of the musical, “Beauty and The Beast.” This would be performed next Saturday in Grandf Rapids, four hours drive on the West side of Michigan. I had attended college in this city at Calvin University.

An hour later, lover boy sent another text.

“Babe, I’ve got a Ticket to Ride.”

My replied, “hahaha. I got show tickets.”

 

The day before the production, my old college roommate, Denise, called me on my work extension. I became frenzied.

She said, “Hey it’s me, darling. I’m staying overnight in your town and will pick you up at 8:30 a.m., tomorrow morning. Let’s do a catch-up over breakfast, see you then.”

Denise hung up before anything could burst from my voice. I thought it strange and a bit off-putting that she basically ordered me to do something. She even called me “darling”, what’s up with that nonsense? I exclaimed, “Darn it all!”

 

I kept this to myself as I’m not one to discuss personal stuff with staff or even residents. Once in a while, I joined them for an after-work drink, but talk stayed casual on these occasions. By contrast and choice, I did more online for socializing than really anywhere else.

That night, sleep was sound and uninterrupted. I was surprised.

Come morning, I was dressed an hour before 8:30, reading the news online and enjoying a scone and coffee.

The doorbell rang. A moment later, it rang again proceeded by two knocks at the door.

I chided myself for being hesitant. Walking to the door, I opened it a tiny crack and said hello.

“Surprise,” four voices said in unison.

Two couples, college friends of mine from Calvin University in Grand Rapids, were here to share my birthday, evidently.

“Wow! You guys had me going,” I said.

“We wanted to be creative,” Denise, one of the women said.

“That you were, for sure,” I said.

 

For a few minutes, they came in, took my quick tour, and then we were off to Grand Rapids for the production.

It turned out the second ticket I received was to include Adam, a guy I had also been friends and a bit romantic with from days at Calvin. The only mishap on the trip was a blown tire halfway to Grand Rapids. We were near a tire store, had it patched and were soon on our way. The show did go on, and we arrived just in time for the curtain call.

 

End