I guess we can have free will when it comes to thinking about samantha with another woman.... lol...just picking...
I've found life to be a lot easier after I accepted I wasn't in control. It's a lot easier to see what I'm supposed to do.
Okay, kid, here we go: It's quite obvious my experience is different from yours, so in the interest of understanding I will tell you a thing or two about me, especially my affinity for the olde english I never really read a book till I was in my twenties. Then, the week of my first child's birth, I had a dream. And the dream was that I was in a schoolroom, and them buzzing lights were over my head, and Mary Ellen Gaffney was sitting infront of me - and I couldn't concentrate - just like it was in real life. IN my dream I started goofing around with everyone around me, just like it had been in real life. Then in my dream the teacher called upon me for an answer, which I not only didn't have - but I had absolutely no idea what he was even talking about. Then in my dream everyone started laughing at me, just like they did in real life, and I felt ashamed. Just like I did in real life. Anyway, as I started to wake up, as I sat with my head on my pillow next to my very pregnant wife, I heard a voice whisper in my ear as clear as day. And this was no longer a dream. And he said these two words: "Educate thyself." I woke, told my wife I'd be back later and went to the library. There I asked the reference librarian for the oldest book ever written. I figured I'd start right at the beginning. She laughed and said "that would either be Homer or the Bible." I said "give me Homer." And I read, and I read... from Homer to Heroditus, to Thucydides, to Plutarch, to Polybius, took Virgil, to Livy, Sallust, the Pliny's, Suetonius, Petronius, Tacitus, Caesar, the Agrippina, the Satyricon, onward and onward, for years and years, until I hit a wall. LIFE. Two and three jobs to support a very growing family. Problem is I never quite got out of the classical period before the afforementioned constraints of life took over again. I have a good job now I earned through nothing more than His favor and hard work. But, lol, my rise to this position was not through the august hallways of some of reknown center of learning - no, it was through the kitchen. Funny thing is my boss absolutely agrees with you, and now that, much to, firstly my very own surprise - I am admistration - Hah!!! - I am called upon to initiate, be the point man on, and negotiate many a business consideration. My boss accused me last week of writing emails like Tolstoy! Hahahaha... So whereas your criticism of my style of expression as archaic may be well founded, your characterization of me, nonetheless, is far afield. You never want to be where I have been. Never. So go ahead and laugh. Christ found me... and more to the point of all this - Christ prepared me. In His own way, knowing what my make-up is, what would attract me and hold my attention, and why and how. Me of all people, who no doubt would have gladly nailed Him to that tree. So, if finally the Lord saw fit to allow me letters, or the joy of reading, that this direction now begun, O' so long ago, might change the very course of my life, how doth this offend thee? Now go shit in your hat.
Thanks mate - you made my day! Am a 30 year old chick, being called kid Thanks also for sharing your story, it's always exciting to hear the great life-changing moments that happen in people's lives About me picking on you. I am not doubting your education, or even critising you in any way! The only reason that I mentioned it, is because I firmly believe that it is a massive turn-off for people to hear words like 'thus and thou' (unless they are coming direct from God... lol. But in general conversation I think it just makes most people shut down, because the of the condemning tone and preachy words that generally followed those statements in the churches unglowing history. If that's how you want to talk though, and you think that it will still enable you to be effective for Christ, then you go for it!
Well, now, pia, my darling, you would hardly call yourself an authority on Christian love, now, would you? I mean, not even for the cause of self-approbation, ridicule of others, a good laugh or otherwise? Would ye? I mean, not you, pia, the bastion of Christian boundaries and behavior? A-hahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahha!!! You remind me so much of one of my five children, yes, one in particular, and, whatever you think, if for the above mentioned reason alone, I must say I actually look forward to your posts. Hope you don't mind.
Thanks Cindy, and I know this is crazy, but God has chosen me to preach to the lost, the insane, the addicted, the hopeless... and, for the most part the not so very academic. I only wish I were more effective. But I believe God leads me on in His manner and to His purpose. I am what I am. And if that be a joke to some I ask only that He use me to His purpose alone.
Either its free will or predestination... Well you know in philosophy, its says that the more your will is free, the more you will choose good. Contradictory - you may say but a freer will constitution enlightenment. So if you are enlightened - you are not free to choose because it only presupposes that you are predestined to choose good. Enough - this line of thinking have made me abandon my philosophy education and go into internet marketing.
Well, of course you deem yourself an authority on what a Christian is then huh? I don't ever recall Jesus saying to anyone "Go s**t in your hat". What type of filth is that? It certainly is not taught from the Bible. Again, you keep referring to me being in a cult. Did you actually look up the definition of a cult when I asked you too, what, twice now? Is the world wide work of showing people what the Bible really teaches deserving of a cult status? Certainly not. You are basing this on simply nothing. Col
Dear Col, I have the dubious distinction of being referred to as "the Cussin' Evangelist." I guess that's an improvement because I used to be called "the Cussin' Fightin' Evangelist" because I wasn't above a good donnybrook when I needed to defend myself or others. I have to live with that, and, honestly, I do not mind. You on the other hand have to live with believing that there is no Trinity, so, whoever you think might be offended by my words you feel you have a right to step in and judge. See, if Jesus is God then He has the right to forgive someone, yes, even me. If He wasn't God then you can go on whining about my language as much as you like because you consider yourself the one most chiefly offended. (Probably much to his own dismay above all others, I think I just paraphrased C.S. Lewis... probably spinning in his grave).
Ronald, I think it's both. I think there were instances in the Bible where someone was clearly predestinated. For instance John the Baptist who, while in the womb, was visited by the Holy Spirit. That's not whistling Dixie. And then there was Samuel, whose mother dedicated him before his birth, in fact, before her conception. No Dixie there either. Then there's the rest of us. And while there may be no whistling Dixie for us, there are according to the Bible, a thousand angels in heaven rejoicing at out conversion. It's that ol' shepherd going after that one lost lamb.
that talk of angels and heaven is real crazy. Remember life before you were born???????? that is what it will be when you die.....nothingness
Yeah, but do you remember life when you were 6 months old - 12 months? What about 2 years old? Were you in nothingness then as well????
Cindy, at 52 years old I can hardly remember life before I was ten. Seriously. Just vague pictures and occurences. Then there were those long dark years where I still can't remember a whole lot. Thanks to a merciful Father.
Well, that is my point. Just because you don't know that something exists and that you 'don't remember what happened' doesn't mean that it does not exist. Umm, and on a side-note... MAN, you are OLD!!! lol
well being a none believer and a none conformist, and a free spirit, i kinda act as i feel. i show contempt when its been directed at me, i treat people they way they treat me, and i am not afraid to fight back, or speak my mind. most of my posts try to have a little humor in them, others are telling people when they are outta line, and others are just down right rude. but like i care, it's text on a page, and thats all. if you have a child that i remind you of, all well and good, it means you aint drummed god into him/her because thats what you feel they have to believe in. you can spread the word about your book, just dont knock on my door and try and ram it down my throat, without expecting a rude tongue lashing and the door smacking your face when i slam it shut. if people want to hear the word of god, i believe they have enough places to go and find him, (huge building with a cross on the top) without people dusturbing my life with unwanted callers. you are like telesales people, just dont take no for an answer. and because i do not believe, what gives you people the right to tell me i should? if there is a god, then i am sure he knows my phone number and can give me a call when i have the need, until then i wont hold my breath. sammie x