I am pinning the thread because it has enjoyed popularity and because it pretty much sums up the kind of environment you will experience as you wade into this watering hole...Have fun, but walk tall and carry a big stick! (Just kidding!)
Today the Lord ministered to my heart about this forum. He called it a "watering hole." I asked what He meant by this, and this is what He told me:
He said that the Christian Forum is not a church body per se, but that it can be be looked upon as a watering hole on the edge of a jungle, with steppe lands and rain forests nearby. There is also a desert in the vicinity. The watering hole is a different sort of a watering hole, as it has a variety of waters within it. More on that later....
The primary thing is that it is a place much like a natural watering hole would be. There are many paths to follow to get to the watering hole. Once one draws near, he must get to the water's edge and in so doing he must walk in the mud and the slime which oozes between the toes of all who would partake. The only way to get to the water is to get dirty feet. Even then, the water is shallow at the outset. It may be murky. Creatures may linger there, hidden from open view. Creatures with fangs, and claws.
There are all manner of beasts which come to the watering hole. Some are herbivores and others are carnivores. Some come out only at night, being nocturnal, and others are children of the day. But they all come because they are thirsty. The carnivores also come with hunger for flesh on their minds. These are they who will pounce upon the unsuspecting and the weak, isolating them from their fellows and devouring them as a meal.
The herbivore beasts are well fed by the rushes and grasses which are round about and even upon the watering hole. Like hippos, they can snorkel away and be filled. They also like to roll in the mud once in awhile to get the bugs off of them...
The waters of the watering hole are entirely mixed...There is a still deep place and a raging rushing torrent place. There is a reflective place, and a cool place. There is a hot spot and a cold spot. The tepid spot is where no one really likes to be, as the water is less desirable than the rest, being "so so" in temperature. There is sweet water, and bitter water. There is troubled water. Some of the water is polluted with poisonous doctrine.
Those who do God service must drink from the watering hole like David's men drank...holding their weapons and reaching down to lap up a handful of the water as they gaze about the landscape for potential threats.
The watering hole of this forum is a watering hole of words, for words are the only thing available in the watering hole....
I pray that the angels stir up the waters of the watering hole, that those who come in simple faith may jump into the pool and receive healing....
The Lord has also ministered to me that our mouths are fountains and that our hearts are well springs. The outflow at the fountainhead is dependant upon the source of the wellspring within. If we agree with the accuser, then we will be in need of rebuke....from the Lord
The Miracle At The Pool (wateringhole)In review of this whole chapter of scripture, I have found many premises about Christ which we subscribe to in the watering hole.
Joh 5:1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Joh 5:2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep [market] a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. Joh 5:3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. Joh 5:4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. Joh 5:5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. Joh 5:6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time [in that case], he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? Joh 5:7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. Joh 5:8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. Joh 5:9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
The Religious Accusation
Joh 5:10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry [thy] bed. Joh 5:11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. Joh 5:12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? Joh 5:13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in [that] place. Joh 5:14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. Joh 5:15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. Joh 5:16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. Joh 5:17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Joh 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
Jesus Reasoned Reply
Joh 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. Joh 5:20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. Joh 5:21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth [them]; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. Joh 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: Joh 5:23 That all [men] should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Joh 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. Joh 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; Joh 5:27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Joh 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, Joh 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. Joh 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. Joh 5:31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. Joh 5:32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. Joh 5:33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. Joh 5:34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. Joh 5:35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. Joh 5:36 But I have greater witness than [that] of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. Joh 5:37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. Joh 5:38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. Joh 5:40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. Joh 5:41 I receive not honour from men. Joh 5:42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. Joh 5:43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. Joh 5:44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that [cometh] from God only? Joh 5:45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is [one] that accuseth you, [even] Moses, in whom ye trust. Joh 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. Joh 5:47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
BZ, without a doubt, the zebra. 
I had a idea of being an owl, always hooting "Who, who, who." 
I guess I see myself more as a 'Rhino' than an elephant! Gotta have that hard-nosed horn! 
) 
and a black bear is mostly a solitary but strong creature that tends to hibernate in the winter, so it's somewhat fitting. Marta, the albino monkey that dares to be different from the rest of the world.