Fear not, if I know the Crew, the rest of the replies will follow shortly... I'm actually privileged to get in there first for a change! Glad I made you laugh - it would have been a bad start if it was taken in the wrong way
Seems there is some common ground indeed! I do enjoy your perspective on all of that - Paul can come across as rather austere at times. 2nd Timothy is a beautiful and intimate letter shared between Father and Son; I can understand how it would change your life. May the Lord still surprise you with a Paul in your life. When I was younger, that was my heart's cry and the Lord sent a Paul to father me in the faith... (a little bit of a hint as to where my username comes from
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I learned that the same love that is found in the "building up" found in Second Timothy is very present in the "tearing down" found in Corinthians and Galatians. It is the rebuke, the discipline, and scourging that instills in you a sense of adoption (Hebrews 12), and the encouragement and the comfort that comes in the wake of that - well, it's sweetness to the soul...
I'm treading on thin ice here, so let me not say anything that's going to get me into trouble now
But yes, ALL we need in life is a Christlike leader!
Getting rather deep for an introduction - sorry, some of us just can't help digging deep!
It's a pleasure to have you with us, and looking forward to getting to know you in the forums.