All,

I have been asked by a few people to place some of the analogies I have written in a new thread so that they are easy to find. So I started this one.

**** PLEASE ****
DO NOT post a response to anything here, as we would like to keep this tidy.

FEEL FREE to ADD any analogy to this library that you see fit. But a link to the thread that spawned it would be helpful. As would a little background information at the top of the post.

NCWalker

The Male Sex Drive Analogy
This was written in response to a FWW who was trying to meet the SF need of her BH. She had asked essentially if no frills sex would be satisfactory. I wrote this to give the fairer sex insight on how a guy thinks about this issue.

Link to Original Thread

===============================================

So ya wanna start a sex thread, eh?

Let’s talk about water coolers first.

WARNING: SEVERAL GROSS GENERALIZATIONS TO FOLLOW, NO OFFENSE INTENDED. IF YOU ARE OFFENDED, GO READ SOMETHING ELSE.

I THINK or GUESS that women like to talk about relationships. They define who they are by how they relate to others. So when women gather around the “water cooler” they talk about relationship aspects, including sex. I think because of this, women in general, have an unfair advantage over their male partners in that they have more exposure to what other relationships are like in this arena. Men, on the other hand, define who they are based on competition. Their water cooler talk tends to be about competitive things. Like me and JL would talk about who could derive the Navier-Stokes fluid flow equation faster. Or sports, maybe. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> Competitive things. Guys learn it is OK not to be the best over time, but can’t handle not being the best in ONE area. SEX. So we avoid the discussion. I mean the relationship part of it, how frequent, how long, how well, etc. The caveman part is OK – “Boy, I’d sure like to roll in the hay with …” No competition there so we are comfortable.

So when you ask what you have asked, you are asking ME a very hard thing to answer. Fortunately for you, and unfortunately for RAP <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> , I have no compunctions or fear of saying anything that would embarrass me. But I must warn you, this is not ALL guys or MOST guys. It may not be ANY guy but me. I just don’t know. It just isn’t “water cooler” discussion for us. Further, I am now in a smaller subset of the part of the population that the fairer sex good-naturedly? dubs Cro-Magnon man in that I am now a BS. Further, I am probably in an even smaller subset because I have only been with one woman. So if that paradigm interests you, or if you feel that you might glean something from this, then by all means do.

Attention male BS who are reading this, a second or third of my opinion would be nice.

NCWalker’s Thoughts on Sex

First, I like it. Lots. Why? Harley has this list of ENs and he says IN GENERAL that SF is high on the male list. It is. Why? Well, the reason is two-fold for a guy. There is a physical urge and there is an emotional need.

THE PHYSICAL URGE: A guy NEEDS to ejaculate. If he doesn’t, it starts affecting his judgments. The balance of power of what a guy does essentially shifts to the “little general” if the little guy doesn’t get to have his “21-gun salute.” It is essentially as simple as that. Now this physical urge can be satisfied in a number of ways. If the guy has no morals or principles, this will be satisfied any way he can (the OM does this). If the guys morals and principles are intact, it will either be his wife or his girlfriend, Palmela Handerson. If you catch my meaning. The urge is as real as the woman changing moods during PMS. But we are guys, MEN, and supposed to be strong. Society treats the female PMS mood swing as an OK and a part of life, even celebrated and used as an excuse for behavior. While the “little general having his parade” is the butt of jokes. Notice how I am actually referring to this in my response to you. As a joke. But it is not a joking matter. It is a real, physical need. This PHYSICAL satisfaction carries NO or LITTLE EMOTIONAL attachment. For all you WW out there, if you are wondering HOW the OM can compartmentalize the PA, this is EXACTLY it. If he was only satisfying his PHYSICAL urge, he wasn’t EMOTIONALLY connecting. This will sound crass, but the nearest parallel I could use to explain it to a woman would be a satisfying bowel movement. There is this pent up feeling, followed by a release that feels good, followed by a mental, kind of euphoric state, of “Man, I feel much better now.” And that’s pretty much it. Kind of boring when you get right down to it. I’m not saying the OM did not connect with you WWs emotionally, I’m just saying it is much easier for a guy to compartmentalize this than you think.

THE EMOTIONAL NEED: And praise God for this, because if IT weren’t a part of this, all you gals out there would think we were maniacs. There IS an emotional need a guy has that is part of the process of intercourse and all it’s various forms. When a guy has intercourse with a girl, they connect on many levels. At least to him. It is a physical thing, but to us it is MUCH more. Remember the water cooler? We are not supposed to talk feelings. We are the MEN. This is probably the ONLY way most guys are REALLY comfortable expressing and being emotional with their wives. I mean I can talk to RAP emotionally and I strive to do so, but it is unnatural for me. I have to CHOOSE to do it. I ENJOY it, but if left to my OWN devices, my choice to emotionally express, connect, bond, whatever, to her would be through intercourse. Is that hard for a female to understand? I don’t know. I think so, but I don’t know. To us, that act of intercourse is an EXPRESSION of love. It is a way you, as the wife, would EXPRESS love to us, so we think it means the same to you. Just like Harley says, you GIVE then ENs you WANT.

I think that my wife ALLOWING me to make love to her is a gift, each and every time. Notice emphasis on the word ALLOW. That is how I feel about it most times, when it happens regularly. This is where it gets a little complicated. If the little general hasn’t seen any combat, he tends to be in charge and my mental state shifts from this wondrous allow/gift thing to more like “It’s about d@mn time.” These two urges are COUPLED and it has to be confusing to you gals.

Now the question: Am I satisfying my man? How do I do that? That depends on WHAT you are trying to satisfy. The EMOTIONAL NEED or the PHYSICAL URGE. When you do BOTH, THAT is when the H gets all starry eyed. But believe me, we’ll TAKE either one. I’m just saying it is earth-shaking and very satisfying when you do BOTH.

So how do you know? Here is my take on it. The EMOTIONAL NEED is the more constant of the two. It has it’s highs and lows, just like any emotional need. It has an average level, with some slight variation. Thinks swells on a gentle sea. The PHYSICAL URGE is wholly dependent on how long it has been since the little general lead the parade. Think the teeth of a saw. Steady climb, then sharp drop off, steady climb, sharp drop, ….

You will ring your husbands bells when you catch BOTH at a peak. And how the act of intercourse goes will play into that.

So here we go, what makes sex good?

The Available Wife: This is the W that is not really into it. A little bit of rubbing and caressing from the H, she relents, etc. Duty sex. Probably the prevalent form after an A while the wife is in the fog.
THE GENERAL THINKS: Wow, that was nice. I enjoyed that. ONLY if he is up on the saw tooth a good ways. If he is not, he may not have anything to say:)
THE HUSBAND THINKS: That was OK. But I kind of feel bad about it. I think I just used my wife. Husband can actually feel guilty about it. His amount of guilt will be related to how strong the EN was.
THE OVERALL PICTURE: Look. Men typically don’t reject sex. We’ll take what we can get. But this kind doesn’t carry the connection. It still can be nice, but we know in the back of our minds it wasn’t what it could be.

The Guilty Wife: This is the W who is not really into it, but feels she “owes” the husband. Maybe for the A, maybe because she went out with the girls last night, maybe because it has been a while and H seems like a pathetic, loved starved puppy. Not into it, BUT INITIATES it.
THE GENERAL THINKS: Whoa-Hoah. She wants me. I am the greatest, most powerful general in the world. Only dependent on the sawtooth for performance. Does he have the ammo?
THE HUSBAND THINKS: THAT was interesting. Probably surprises him, because all he hears about women and sex is that it is MORE than sex. But here she is….
THE OVERALL PICTURE: May be confusing, VERY tied to where his EN is at the time – high or low. Still likes it. Could turn into earth-shattering sex IF EN is high enough in H and IF W DOES NOT SHUT DOWN AFTER. Like jump up to get cleaned up. Or get something to eat. If the EN level is low and the W is “finished” when it is over, no cuddling, chit chat, etc., the H will feel pretty guilty.

The Seduced Wife: This is the wife who WANTS to after the H starts something. The wife is “in” to it and probably achieves the O. My guess the most prevalent type of “normal” sex life. Hard to achieve after A because image of OM is in husbands head – does she REALLY want to?
THE GENERAL THINKS: Let’s roll, big guy. It is USUALLY the general who starts things. No worries about where he is on the saw tooth, since he is starting it.
THE HUSBAND THINKS: She loves me BECAUSE she responds to me. I turn her on and it makes me feel like a man.
THE OVERALL PICTURE: Strong chance of the earth-shaking sex, ESPECIALLY if the wife has the O. That is IMPORTANT to the man. Makes him feel like a man. Can actually be ruined if the W shuts down after. The MAN may want to roll over and go to sleep, but it is a HUGE feed to his ego, a HUGE love bank deposit if the woman wants to lay on his chest and stroke him after, or something like that. Especially if he DOES fall asleep and does not get teased or yelled at about it. Understandably, it may be hard for the woman to do, but this is one of those times where she makes the choice – do I give or take? I am not saying she should ALWAYS give, but she needs to understand what it does for the man if she does.

The Uninhibited Wife: The wife who WANTS to AND INITIATES. I’m not talking saying “Let’s have sex” after climbing in bed, or rubbing your tushy into the crotch. That is essentially just a signal that you are, or want to be, the Seduced Wife above. I’m talking about calling him home for lunch and having a special surprise waiting, or joining him in the shower when he doesn’t expect it, or waking the general up first in the morning, or, frankly, doing most anything with the general outside of the home.
THE GENERAL THINKS: ATTENTION!! FALL IN TROOPS!
THE HUSBAND THINKS: I have married a porn star, my life is complete!
THE OVERALL PICTURE: You know those women who get what they want using sex as a weapon? This is them. They know how to play both needs, even if the act is not involved. An interested, forward woman is the most DANGEROUS thing around a man. And a WIFE who is that way is perhaps one of a husband’s biggest rewards. I am not saying if you are not like this all the time, you are a bad wife, but you have no idea what this says to your husband on BOTH levels. The only possible way this is not effective and would lead to earth-shaking him would be if the “general” was just in battle. And even then, maybe not.

Here is the rub. I am guessing MOST BS that are men think you WERE “The Uninhibited Wife” with the OM. THAT is what makes it so hard for us to get through this. That is why the SF for the male BS is such a strange beast.

Now let’s talk after the A a bit. And I’ll try and be brief. Here are some of the things going through a guy’s head AFTER the A:

- Did he satisfy her more?
- Why can’t she be the “Uninhibited Wife” with me?
- I am going to mark my turf again.
- Is she thinking about him now?
- I can’t believe she gave THIS to another guy.
- I can’t believe another guy was here.

So what have you ladies done to us? There is now a THIRD component to the gentle swell of the EN and the sawtooth shape of the physical need. And that is a repugnance for what you did. And the difficulty is where now all three lie in relation to one another for the guy to enjoy post A sex.

I am guessing that this repugnance component will dwindle and taper off with time and as the BS forgives you. Maybe an occasional blip. But you WW are talking triggers all the time, and how hard they are to handle. You have to remember that to US, SEX is now a trigger. YOU may have some enjoyable memories/feelings from the affair. And a good feeling is not intrinsically wrong, it is the choice you make based on the feeling that is. But you have to remember we (the BS) DON’T have any good feelings or memories of the A.

IMVHO BOTH partners are going to have to MAKE these good memories during the Recovery Period. And here is where the Enemy’s INSIDIOUS plot that IS the A really comes to fruition. The quickest, most effective way the BH will be able to put the A behind is if the WW is the “Uninhibited Wife.” But the best the WW can probably do is the “Available Wife.” The reasons for both points of view are pretty simple and straightforward. That is what is so damaging by this ploy of the Enemy that the couple faces. What will it take to get through? Patience and Understanding.

OK. Now that you have all had a look in to the male BS mind (or mine at least), here is my answer to BVs question.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> I will reply to you again tonight NC. Really appreciate your input on how you thought I handled the SF thing with Mr BV (would you have been hurt if it had been no frills, or just glad??) Hope RAP doesn’t mind me asking for your personal input to me on this.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">I don’t know. The only way to know would be to have sex and see. Here are the possible outcomes:

I couldn’t perform, you withdrew after – triggers, general recently had a solo parade, whatever. It must be HORRIBLE for the WW to go through that, it must feel like rejection from her H. If the BH couldn’t and the WW withdrew, the H EN would be KILLED. Would definitely feel like you preferred the OM and I was letting you down. The withdraw would carry a kind of finality for me.

I couldn’t perform, you were understanding – Here is where the WW really has to buckle down. If you make yourself available in this emotional time, and the BS can’t perform, you MUST be understanding. The BS will be beating himself up and feeling pretty crappy. Let him know you know it will take time to fix and you are willing to keep trying.

I could perform, you withdrew after – If it started with the understanding we were going to test the waters, I would be OK with this. If you started crying, it would be harder. But I would have at least the Physical Urge and some of the EN satisfied.

I could perform, you did NOT withdraw – Would be a BIG LB deposit. Would let me know that you were getting over the OM. Would let me know you loved me and wanted me. Especially if you performed as Uninhibited Wife. Would be hard to do, recently after A.

Remember my comment about UNDERSTANDING? This act carries such significance with a man, due to the duality of it, the coupled nature, I would consider it dangerous grounds during the early part of recovery. Could take big steps forward or backward with it. If either party does not reasonably understand what the other party is going through, it would be hard.

My final comment. I DO reasonably understand what RAP is going through. And because of this, if the ACT itself did not go off as planned, or poorly, I WOULD, after some time appreciate the effort it took her to be available. Even though I might be hurt or angry just after. UNDERSTANDING is the lock, COMMUNICATION is the key.

BV, I’ll answer your question with a question. Given the explanation of how I feel about it, you tell me, was Mr. BV hurt or glad?

NCWalker

The Concert Hall Analogy
This was in response to a FWW who said something was "missing" inside her. I am a Spirit filled Christian and felt she was not walking fully in the fruits of the Spirit. This post is essentially my attempt to explain to her the fire baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Link to Original Thread
(The link is to the first page. This analogy is on the second. Overall, this was one of my favorite threads and a good read for general Christian discussion).

(Please note, I make some statements about a "right" church that came accross unclear. They are at the end of this post. That issue was addressed and clarified on the original thread. So go there if you take issue with it.)

==============================

Hi all,

OK. This is a big post. I kind of feel like my testimony needs to go here so you all will understand where I am coming from. So I am posting two posts. This is going to be my testimony and right after it will be *MY* answer to CHackler’s question. If you are a Spirit Filled Christian and KNOW what that means, you can probably skip this and just read my next post. You won’t hurt my feelings. Much. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

OK. Here is what I am going to try and answer, this question from CHackler:

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">So what was I saying fish man? Oh yah, tilling the fruit in me. I see I need work in this area so where do I get started? Do you have any bible verses you can suggest?? It's more than reading the bible though, thoughts and actions as well. What says you???</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">CH, I am SO glad you are a Christian.

DipiT – you go wit YOUR bad self. It is the same as MY bad self, the Spirit. Darling, you said:

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> (now don't think I am getting "weird Christian" on you),</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Ain’t no such thing! RAP, cover your ears (eyes?) because I AM going to get “weird Christian” on all of you.

I have this sense that this thread has now picked up a little bit of a following. And I fear my answer may be confusing as this site is a medley of different Christians, different faiths even and also non-believers. For you to understand my answer, I think, you are going to need to see how NCWalker “sees” things. For some of you, I don’t think you are going to see this and you will be in my prayers. What I am going to tell you is NCWalker’s views on faith, on how God moves. Scriptures will come later, first comes a story.

I say this sincerely, if you want what I have, post back to me on this thread. I WILL pray for you. If you don’t want what I have, or don’t agree with me, I will STILL pray for you. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

I do not want to start a theological argument over this. Not the purpose of this thread, not the purpose of this board. CHackler asked “What says me” and this is what me says.

On to the story…

=================

I am a pretty big music lover. I actually enjoy heavy-metal a good bit. I want to tell you about the most amazing concert I was every at. It was put on by an obscure, local band name “Ain-Chent of Daze.”

Now this band is pretty obscure. I am sure you heard some of their songs, maybe on a radio, maybe from a friend, but you probably didn’t know it was them. They dabble in other kinds of music besides metal, so they have probably churned out a song or two that you like.

They put on this concert and people started coming to it. Some heard about it on the radio, some from friends, and some just noticed the concert hall and came out of curiosity.

The concert hall was AMAZING. It could hold an enormous amount of people. It was all done in glass, so you could see what was going on inside, but you couldn’t hear anything from the outside. You just saw all the people inside dancing and having fun. People were coming from all directions to this spectacle. Some, like me, tried to get in, others just watched from the hillside. Some of them liked what they saw, but would not get in the line at the door. Probably didn’t want to be seen by their neighbors or didn’t have the money for a ticket. Others did not like what they saw, shook their heads and walked away.

I stood in line waiting to get in. The line seemed to move slow and many people left, frustrated. When I got to the door, my first surprise was that “Ain-Chent of Daze” was giving a FREE concert. I just walked right through the front door into the lobby. Once in the lobby, I could hear the band playing. The music was great, but it was that sort of muted sound. Like when your neighbor in your apartment has HIS radio up loud. You can tell it’s music, you can tell if you like it, but you can’t really hear it.

There were lots of people in the lobby. They had refreshments. People were talking and mingling, some dancing, everyone was having a great time. I couldn’t wait to hear the music, so I didn’t linger long in the lobby. I rushed the inner door to hear the music.

Whoa! Once I got in the concert hall, everything changed. I mean I had heard their songs before and had a few CDs, but they were MUCH better LIVE! I heard things in their music I have never heard before. Everyone was having a great time. It was one of those concerts with universal appeal. People from all walks of life were dancing and shouting and trying to get to the stage.

The stage. The music had such a draw to get close to the stage. I mean I wanted to be in the front row. There were no seats, it was an open floor with everyone standing. And the press of the crowd was to get to the stage. So we were all trying to get there. Sometimes I tried shoving my way through, but that didn’t work. I kind of angered those around me and found that the harder I tried to push my way in, the farther and farther back I drifted. If I stopped trying to get to the stage, I still drifted back as those around me moved forward. All this time this great dance was going on and people were shouting and singing with the music. But once I stopped trying fight the flow, I found I would drift closer to the stage. It was weird. If I let those around me move closer, I got closer with them. The movement was definitely to the stage, but if I tried to move at a different pace, I would always move farther. It was just the way the rhythm of the dancing worked.

The closer we got to the stage, the more in tune I became with the fans around me. The more our dance unified. This concert went on for hours and hours. Some of us would go back to the lobby to go to the bathroom, or get a drink. But everyone was glad when they came back to the concert hall.

I could see outside this glass concert hall to the people on the hills outside looking in and wanted them to join me. I called to them and they did not hear. Some of them saw how much fun we were having and came in and joined us. It made the concert all the more rewarding. I can’t really explain why, it was one of those situations made better by sharing. Some on the outside just wouldn’t budge, no matter how hard we danced.

This concert kept going and kept going. My muscles ached from the dancing and I was dripping sweat. Sometimes it made me want to go back outside for a break, but if I gave my attention to the music it swept me back up and I forgot my discomfort. It was entrancing. It was like the music actually revitalized me and gave me strength.

Eventually, it ended as all good things do. Some people were glad it was over, some people were sad. But EVERYONE there, even the people who never left the lobby, thought it was an experience of a lifetime.

==================

So that’s it. My “picture” of how God actually moves. The concert hall and the song is NOT heaven. It is a picture of a SPIRIT FILLED Christian life. What is that? I can’t explain it. One of my favorite songs is by the “Newsboys” called “Spirit Thing.” The chorus goes:

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">It’s just a Spirit thing, it’s just a holy nudge,
It’s like a circuit judge in the brain.

It’s just a Spirit thing, it’s here to guide my heart,
It’s just a little hard to explain.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Hopefully my picture explains it. The people outside the auditorium are the “unsaved.” Those who have not received the water baptism of repentance and accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

That baptism, that statement, is the entrance to the lobby. Once in, your in, and you are going to heaven.

The entrance to the concert hall is the fire baptism, or baptism in the Holy Spirit. That is when you really here the music.

Being in the concert is just living life on this earth in God’s will. The end of the concert is your death. If you made it in the building, you go to heaven. Simple as that.

A couple of points to let you know a little more how I believe:
- Some never left the lobby, those are the folks who don’t believe in the fire baptism. Still going to heaven, but not fully walking in God’s will.
- The people in the concert could see those outside the hall and wanted them to come in, but could not call to them. Those outside were enticed in by SEEING the dance and fun those inside were having. That is the Great Commission. To “save” others. But it is BEST DONE by action – let your light shine, so that others may see your good deeds.
- There was always motion, in the lobby, towards the stage and away. That is our “spiritual walk” AFTER the baptisms. The closer to the stage, the closer to the Spirit. Some even left the hall to go to the lobby. The ups and downs we all go through.
- The “go with the flow” to get to the stage is God’s timing. When we are in God’s timing, motion to the stage is effortless, easy. When we fight God’s timing, either to go faster OR slower, we actually slow the progress to get closer to God.
- Getting tired at the concert is my flesh being weak. I can succumb to the weakness and return to the lobby, or focus on the Spirit and let the “music” refresh me.
- Notice the doors. There is only one into the lobby and one into the concert hall. But there are MANY paths to the doors. Everyone’s spiritual experience tends to be unique, but they do culminate in two pivotal events.
- Notice some stay in the lobby before they enter the concert hall. My fire baptism came at the same time as my acceptance of my Savior. Like a thunderclap. I went right through the lobby. Others do not. Some linger in the lobby for some time before the fire baptism.

Go back and read the story again, so you understand my picture.

===========

Now let’s talk about Satan. Where was Satan in all of this? He was at the door, frustrating the people trying to get in. He was also IN THE CONCERT HALL trying to get the people to go to the stage at their own pace and thus move away.

Let’s talk about Satan a minute. Satan is AWESOME. Does that raise the hackles on the back of your neck? It should, not because I am saying it, it almost sounds like I am speaking against God. It should because it is true. Look up the word in a dictionary. Look up the word “awe” while you are at it. Satan is a FALLEN ANGEL. He IS FINITE, only God is infinite, but his power is such that he may as well be infinite when you consider us as creatures of flesh. Don’t like me saying that? Tough. Better believe it. It is funny how many people believe in God, but have trouble believing in the enemy.

Know what else? Satan is HAPPY about how we generally portray him. Red suit, horns, pitch fork, slimy, whatever. His greatest weapon is DECEPTION. My pastor made a profound statement. He said “Satan will GIVE us something GOOD to keep us from the BEST.” Let that sink in.

You are all (or most) here on this board due to an affair. I would ask the FWS to be honest with themselves – was the affair BAD? I mean did it FEEL bad? Or did it meet a need. I know your answer already, because if AFFAIR = PAIN you WOULD NOT HAVE DONE IT. AFFAIR = PLEASURE, you got something GOOD. And it kept you from the BEST – a healthy marriage ordained by God.

If you don’t think Satan is awesome, you are SERIOUSLY underestimating your adversary and the NEED for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Am I getting through to you with that? I hope so. If I am not I will pray for you.

Satan WILL come after you the closer you get to the Lord. He is FINITE remember? He has to pick and choose his targets carefully. He is FINITE. He doesn’t worry about those outside the concert hall, he is most worried about those in line. He doesn’t want them to get in. He is also worried about those inside. He wants them as FAR from the stage as possible. So it looks like they are not having fun. Remember the people outside looking in? He wants the concert to appear BORING to them. Salvation does not mean freedom from the influences of the enemy, he will still try and influence you AFTERWARDS and “beat down” your walk.


So why do we need the Fire Baptism? Why the Holy Spirit?

We are all made in the image of God. God is also 3 in 1. Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit. So we are also 3 in 1.

What are OUR parts?

PART 1
Like the Son, we are flesh. This is where we are tempted. This is our emotional response to stimulus, and believe me Satan can stimulate us. He is the tempter. Funny thing though, God does NOT tempt us. He leads us by the Spirit. Reason one why we need it.

PART 2
Like the Father, we have will. God WILLED the earth into existence. The Father is WILL. It is our soul so to speak. It is where we make our CHOICES based on what our flesh (emotions and temptations and feelings) and our spirit tells us.

PART 3
Like the Holy Spirit, we have a spirit in us. Or room for one.

I want you to think about this carefully, if you have NOT received the fire baptism of the Holy Spirit, then there are two possible conditions.

1 - You either have no piece, or gift, of the Holy Spirit, God’s spirit. An empty space, as it were.
2 – You have a spirit there, and it isn’t from God. Hmmm.

Is that a scary thought to you? It should be. It gives me nightmares to consider how I USED to be.

You know how the Bible says that when two witness on a matter it is settled, and a cord of three strands is not easily broken? THAT is why you need the Holy Spirit.

Satan will tempt and influence your flesh. Not all the time, he is finite. Also the reason why the unsaved do GOOD deeds as well. We are not continually plagued by Satan to do evil, he is finite. But he will do it. What happens then?

Well you have this flesh telling you to do evil. What about your soul? You can be ”raised right” as the term is used, Christian or not. I mean taught what most would consider right from wrong. Your WILL CAN resist temptation out of the sense of doing good. But it is a one to one fight. Sometimes your will wins, sometimes your flesh. What if you have the Holy Spirit through the fire baptism? When your WILL CHOOSES the Godly way, and your infilling of the Holy Spirit ALWAYS chooses the Godly way, you have the second witness, the second cord, AND THE MATTER IS SETTLED.

It is kind of like your flesh votes BAD, the Spirit votes GOOD and your soul breaks the tie. That is your free-will, your choice. That is what HONORS God.

See why it is important?

It is even critical in interpreting the Bible. How much do you believe in the Bible? All of it, or only what you choose? Do you believe John 3:16? How about John 1:1? The Word being Flesh? Do you want to know right from wrong? Then KNOW the Bible. But that is not enough. It is only the FIRST cord. Ever see how people interpret the Bible different ways? One cord does not settle the matter. If you have received the fire baptism, THAT is your second cord. Know the Bible and pray to Spirit about what you have read or been told. You will get confirmation from the Spirit and THAT is your second cord. The matter is settled.

See why it is important?

=================

OK. Enough of NCWalker proselytizing. Let’s take a look at a few scriptures. To provoke a little thinking. Again, I do not want to get into a theological argument here. CHackler asked “what says me” and THIS is what I says. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">
Matthew 3
11"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire."</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">John’s water baptism is repentance. What is repentance? Salvation from sin. What is Jesus? The SAVIOR. John’s baptism is the baptism of the Savior. Accepting him as Lord and Savior in life. The born again Christian. So if that is it, what is the Holy Spirit and fire baptism John is talking about here?

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">
Matthew 4
The Temptation of Jesus
1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' "
5Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6"If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:
" 'He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.' "
7Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' "
8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9"All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
10Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.' "
11Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Three points here: The Spirit had to ALLOW Jesus to be tempted. Yes he was flesh, but he was also divine. Unfortunately for us, our flesh is not divine so Satan can tempt us at will. Second point, remember that Jesus fasted. The purpose of this is to HUMBLE your flesh. To MASTER your flesh by weakening it. Remember the voting thing above? It is EASIER if you have mastered your flesh. Then the vote of the flesh doesn’t sound so clear to the soul. The third point is the temptation. Look at the finality of these temptations. Jesus was subjected to EXTREME temptation. A demonstration that the Spirit can OVERCOME the flesh if we let it.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> Acts 2
38Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Here we go again. Another distinction between the baptism of salvation and the baptism of the spirit. From Acts, which should probably be title “Acts of the Holy Spirit” because that is what it really is. (Funny aside: NCWalker was RAISED Catholic. Left the faith. Practiced Buddhism for a while. Then was led to a Spirit filled Christian life of joy by RAP (my wife). I remember Catholic school. Isn’t it funny how they AVOID Acts? It is like this secret they don’t want you to know. Sorry if I offend any Catholics with that. My poor grandma is rolling over in her grave. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> )

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> Acts 19
Paul in Ephesus
1While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?"
They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."
3So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?"
"John's baptism," they replied.
4Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." 5On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7There were about twelve men in all.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">I am seeing a pattern here. Are you? Hope so.


OK. Enough. That is how I believe. I would pose this to you. If you are NOT THERE or all this sounds foreign, you are not going to fully understand my answer to CHackler’s question. If you DO NOT have the baptism of the Holy Spirit, you are going to be seriously disadvantaged.

I’m sorry if that bothers you, it is the way I believe. And believe me, if you knew me BEFORE I received this baptism, I would be the LAST person you would have thought would be saying this. I am EXTREMELY logical and scientifically driven. Our beloved JL is a physicist. I posted a thread to him titled “Calabai-Yau Space” and it got his attention. It is an OBSCURE subject of study in physics. I know my science. Well. And you know what? The MORE I learn the MORE it convinces me there IS a Creator.

My suggestion. If you are not going to a church that is Spirit filled you are missing out. You are either outside the concert hall or in the lobby and you are missing out. How do you tell if that is your church? (Gritting my teeth to get blasted for this, but to me the TRUTH so blast away)
- ALIVE praise and worship that gets your blood pumping, trash the stultifying hymnals, LIVE and PRAISE your LIVING God.
- Acvtive works with the GIFTS of the Spirit (not the Fruits, the GIFTS). I’m talking prophesy, healing, discernment of spirits. If these terms are not EMBRACED by your pastor, find another church. If you want to read about them, see Rom 12:6-8 and 1 CO 12.
- Speaking in tongues. Will be going on if the Spirit is active in you. Read about this in 1 CO 14.

Now I think I can answer the question.

It’s Just a Spirit Thing,

NCWalker