keep seeking jesus ! He is the only way and truth :) God bless

David Kennedy -- I am as you are. I also found this message very encouraging.

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever ; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans ; I will come to you. John 14:16-18

But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

You are right. I personally am not always in agreement with this particullar pastor. However, in particullar surcumstance he like you is also right. Celibacy is good thing under the New Covenment. However I will say this, in no way should it replace marriage. For as many celibate ministers of the Lord in the first Church you can find just as many married ministers. The point is, if you feel the Holy Spirit calling you to celibacy then it is good, but if you know that isn't your calling by all means get married. For example Peter was married, whereas Paul was not, and both had an equal impact on the Church.

I'm a single Christian as well, and it is extremely difficult. When everyone else around me is in a relationship, even my Christian brothers and sisters, it's hard to wait for the one God is calling me to (If He is indeed calling me to ever be in a relationship). I see where you're coming from, but I don't think that you have to go through something to speak on it. If that were so, only pastors who struggle with murder, homosexuality, stealing, coveting, pedophillia, witchcraft, drunkenness, ect. could preach on those topics. So I don't believe a pastor's authority to preach comes from experience, but rather from God's anointing on them to preach the word. Yes, it would be great if he knew exactly how painful it is, but that doesn't mean that he can't speak on it. I hope that made some sense lol God bless!

No pastor has been through it all, which is why he looks to Scripture and the wisdom of a very Godly single man. He is explicit in stating that he doesnt know how people felt, merely what God says. I am single in my 30s and I am finding contentment in God through my singleness. I was engaged to be married 7 years ago, and I am so glad that God spared me from that relationship. I can give more of myself to Him, and I can let Him fill every desire of my heart, in a way that no spouse ever could. I hope and pray that God helps you through your pain to become more and more content in Christ alone.

Ann Ng Fortunately, the Bible has meaning that is external from our own feelings. Everyone has a desire for physical contact, what is important is submitting ourselves first to Christ over the desires of our flesh. Every person is called to celibacy for a time in their lives, for some that calling is extended for life. This does not diminish sexual urges, but instead is about allowing single people to give themselves more fully to the work of the Gospel. I fear your perspective on sex, marriage, and good works are all a bit skewed.

I feel you views are quite skewed Matt. You twist God and his word into some sort of sadistic legalistic code that misses the heart of the gospel. Yes we fight against the flesh. But God created man to be with women. What Paul said was that it is good for a man "with no desire" to remain single. The bible says quite the opposite. Paul says if you can not remain single due to desire, loneliness etc. Then marry. This theology of yours is twisted at best. It reminds me of a passage 1 Corinthians 7 says " 2 Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband". What you are doing is not much different than what the Catholic Church did with there priests. History shows how that turned out.

David Allan I am not really sure how you misinterpreted what I said so badly, it was a response to Ann Ng's post, not a response to Platt. You claim that I twisted the Gospel, but you never even approach a response to that serious accusation. It bears no resemblance to Catholic doctrine either, which you also do not comment on. I never said that marriage was somehow less than singleness. Marriage is a great partnership in the work of the Gospel. It is also very demeaning to marriage to say that it only exists because of strong sexual desires. For some this is true, for others marriage is necessary to bring Christ greater glory through companionship and encouragement. Look at Adam, God said that it was good for him to have a helper and that was before sexual desire was acted out in lust. Sex is an important but rather small aspect of marriage. Whether single or married, do it unto the Lord. Please be careful with your rhetoric in the future, your tone is not very God honoring.

You can serve the Lord with the time you would not have if you were in a active relationship. God bless you!

So was Timothy

Matt Hannan right on

Are you referring to Jeremiah 10?

BINGO!!!!!! Very good!!!!! Another one?

How about one for you.. how many people did god kill in the bible? How many people did Satan kill?

Sydney Casey its a debate. according to some sources he killed 2.8 million, and someone counted to 33.100 xxx. satan only did 10 of them.... good?

not really a christmas tree, more like an idol made of wood. But if a christmas tree really is an idol to you and is aggressively attacking your relationship with God, then get rid of it. As it stands though, using a christmas tree for your regular holiday practices is not a sin on its own.