Should humans be proud of what we have achieved? Watching this presentation makes me think we could, and should, do alot better.
I know. I wonder what it would take for us to stop just being thankful and actually do something to make a difference. and I dont mean rock concerts...
Hah! I am coming (somewhat by failure I admit) off a four day fast today. It started at a food court my company owns. I was in a meeting with some of the managers when the room started to spin. I felt a cold hard sweat gathering at my forehead and said myself, 'Oh, shit.' Only it wasn't exactly to myself and minutes later I was eating some white rice from a black plastic bowl furnished me by the manager of a Panda Express which leases from us there. For days now (and nights too) I have been thinking of primarily three things: Yodells, Baked Clams Oreganato, and Veal Parmesian heavily over-cheesed and browned just right on the top. I could picture cutting into the cheese, pulling the fork way into the air with the cheese just a'streetching out like thick gobs of bubble gum. Then using my knife to wrap the strands around my fork. I could taste the thing as it entered my mouth. I left the food court and ran one block to this great hot dog stand, great Chicago dogs, Vienna Beef, all smushed with chili and cheese. I am going now to the market. I am going to cook that Parmesian tonight for the most beautiful Mexican woman I have ever seen. She doesn't speak a lick of english but she has taken quite nicely to zuppa d pesce, lasagne, marsala, and the rest. She thinks I'm a genius, especially when I utter such things as "Tu completo mi." She makes me so happy. Long silky jet-black hair... Dark, rich morena skin, black pools for eyes. I will drink some red wine tonight too. And feed her at the big table by candle-light. She herself does not drink so I have tapered off quite a bit in the year I have been seeing her. - What??? A year, you say, and you haven't taught her any english??? Hey, you make think I'm crazy but I never said I was stupid It's one of those selfish things I guess I'll have to answer for come the "Big Day" with the "Big Guy" I'm certain. IN the meantime it sure is grand North and Arnie... I want to tell you of a dream I had and a voice that clearly spoke to me once. But not tonight
God is so infinitely above His creation and His creatures. His ways are beyond understanding and His wisdom beyond anything man can comprehend (i.e. He IS God). God does condescend and has/does/will always speak. He says He speaks through the majesty of this creation and those "laws" that govern are but His daily providential goodness to both those that love and those hate Him. Questions? Sure, there are plenty. Anyone can ask questions. Questions don't negate God. It's the arrogance of man to want to call God to account without knowing all the facts. Only God has all the facts. Read the book of Job in the Bible and pay attention to how the final chapters end and you'll get an idea of what's going on here. The problem of evil and sin is real but God has dealt with the fall of his creatures and corruption of His creation. Some will say that justice delayed is justice denied, but I say that justice delayed is God's grace and mercy to a fallen world. Had God truly acted with swift and immediate justice, there would be no redemption, no forgiveness, no Christ to save His people from their sins. There will always be doubters and haters of God but God is patient for now to work His will in the salvation of the world (ones from every nation, kindred, tongue, and tribe).
Sounds wonderful. I have little idea why but I have been almost exclusively with Mexican women for what seems like a long time. So I identify. Maybe this is Gods way of teaching me tolerance for the "New Irish"? Am I learning a lesson? If so, thank you God, that was such a nice way of teaching me. God now I lay me down to sleep: I think now I'm ready for you to teach me tolerance for Japanese women...whatta ya say?
"Why does God let those who believe in him suffef, but lets those who do not, lik eatheists, liv ehappy, fulfilled lives?" There are many stories and evidence of saints who suffered, wrre tortured, and or died at the hands of other relkgions, but in the ned, they go to Heaven. The fact that their bodies never decompose is a sign that God exists because they are that way because of their life through Jesus. He lets those who don't believe in him andx those who hate Him live happy lives because He knows they will go to hell. There are many warnings, but they continue to deny, say they are lies, or make excuses not to elieve, If didn't care, would not have given so many warnings, by people, saints, miracles, apparitions, the Bible, etc. Did make man so screwed up thayt he can't hear the true word of ?" People blind themxelves to thd truth.
Some of those questions, I have, as well as many others, have wondered about, but what I think of each time is what results of truly following God and what results in following satan. The things that God warns us about are the things which turned satan into what he is today. "Why does God let those who believe in him suffer, but lets those who do not, like atheists, live happy, fulfilled lives?" There are many stories and evidence of saints who suffered, were tortured, and or died at the hands of other religions, but in the end, they go to Heaven. The fact that their bodies never decompose is a sign that God exists because they are that way because of their life through Jesus. He lets those who don't believe in him and those who hate Him live happy lives because He knows they will choose go to hell in the end, and that's probably His way letting it be possible that they have happiness at the only time they will ever be able to. It's not God who sends people to hell, it's Satan who does. With God-suffer on Earth (to defeat satan), but live in eternal paradise. Satan's way-be happy now, but suffer eternally. There are many warnings, but they continue to deny, say they are lies, or make excuses not to believe; excuses to deny God. If God didn't care, would not have given so many warnings, by people, saints, miracles, apparitions, the Bible, etc. "Did God make man so screwed up that he can't hear the true word of God?" People blind themselves to the truth. Satan accuses God. Those who accuse God are thinking the same way satan thinks, so therefore, from the one who causes suffering in the world, they adore (not his violent ways, but his lying ways; still evil and from satan), but the one who warns and asks, not forces, them to come to Him, they blame everything on, but He is the one who gave you life, and the things you love. He gave people free will. The one who hates you tells you everything you want to hear, but one who cares about you, tells you the truth which is never everything you want to hear. Just like parents do with rebellious children. If Jesus never suffered for humanity, no one could enter heaven. If you have something to eat, but give it to a starving child, and as a result, suffer (for missing lunch) for it...? Everyone knows the answer. That is just a little tiny bit of suffering, but it does a lot of good. Jesus suffered, and because of that, many are spared from hell, and go to heaven. If parents didn't sacrifice for their children (arguments, cleaning up after, saving for college, etc.; lots of work), but instead, do only what they wanted and only pay attention to the child when they felt like it or only through the happy times, their children would be like how those children who are neglected are. Perhaps God gave this world to the life that is in it, to do what they want to do. He does help, by those who prevent and try to help others, like those who catch criminals, child predators before they can even meet a child, those who help animals who are being mistreated, etc. Wouldn't it be wrong for Him to force people to do only what He wants them to? He doesn't send people to hell, satan does by lies. How do you think the angels, who know much more than humans do (How could they not? Demons manipulate everday with very convincing lies and twisted truths) fell with satan? It had to be that they turned evil slowly and over time, not immediately. If they know much more than humans, it would be harder to turn them against God, but it happened because satan's lies are extremely deceptive and clever, and they fell for those lies. "Why are there so many wars in God's name?" Just because someone proclaims it's in His name doesn't mean He has anything to do with it. If someone murders in your name, are you guilty of the crime? No. "Why create the fruit of knowledge if didn't want Eve to eat it?" He wouldn't have. He told them what it was, but warned them of the consequences if they ate it. He gave them free will to chose to either listen to Him and not eat it or eat it and die (warned them of the side effect of them having that knowledge). Just as friends warn their friends about doing things that are dangerous or harmful to them, God did the same. Wouldn't it be wrong to force your friends to live how you want them to live and take away their right of free will? I noticed that when someone thinks those questions is when they are angry or are against God. Demons feel that way, so how do you know those questions are not from them who, obviously, try exceedingly hard to turn or keep people from God. If you truly don't believe there is a God, then how could you be so emotional about it, angry towards someone who, you say, doesn't exist? If you truly didn't believe it, your emotions would have been directed towards the guilty or the circumstance instead of towards God. Isn't this also a very important question to ponder? What if hell really does exist? If it does, those who fall for satan's lies and turn away from God will have all eternity to realize they were made fools of by satan, regret having had fallen for those lies, never know the answers, and suffer eternally. If it's true, they are in for worse than they could ever imagine.
I'm proud of any good person that ever lived, whether they ever heard of Jesus Christ almighty, my Lord and Saviour, or not.
Thank you for your compliments, but isn't that what we all do and need to do, keep searching, learning, etc. to find the truth, or as close as we can get, for our eternal lives? It's part of human nature to be curious and wonder. If we knew already, wouldn't it be boring? Wasn't it wonderful when we were children, to learn and discover new things, to find out the truth about them? And how the child's parents experience the joy of seeing their children growing up? Maybe that's another reason why God did not give us, when created us, all knowledge, so we could wonder, learn, and have the joy to experience new things. But evil takes that away from us with lies and manipulative deceptions, and making us angry for things we don't even know the real answer to and even worse, accusing God for things that the one who whispered those lies to us, did-blaming God for satan's actions. "When someone falls victim to satan, they have won over him, in one way or the other (just as what happened when he crucified Jesus)." The opposite would be victimizing others along with satan; then, the person is just like him, and will share in his punishment. I read about discernment of spirits-when it's from God, it brings peace, but when it's from evil, it brings anger or bitterness. (Justified anger may be justified, but to let it take over someone, their life, and for them to go overboard with it is destructive; both for them and everyone else.) When someone is angry, there are two sides to it-the one that makes you feel like you could not do enough to show how angry you are, like in revenge and the one that makes you feel like forgiving. When angry, a person starts thinking about the circumstance and gets more angry, but at the same time, later, or afterwards, they also think of things that calm them down. Perhaps, the voice of destruction and bitterness is demons, and the voice of reason and forgiveness is from God, through their guardian angel. No matter what lies they tell me, I still hold on to my faith in God, and that there must be a reason and an answer because God gives Heaven while they, who desire that I go to hell (that is the purpose of their lies), only offer hell. I think, to myself, "Doesn't that say a lot about God, and a lot about satan and his lies and what they lead to?" Like I said before, when we were children, we didn't always understand why our parents didn't tell us everything, why we weren't allowed to do certain things, or why they punished us, but now that we know, we regret the times when we hurt them for things they did to protect us and for our benefit. God is like a parent, while satan is like that person who tells you everything you want to hear so he can lure you to do whatever he wants to you, or like one who is jealous (lost it, so now, you can't have it either). No one knows everything, and some questions will go unanswered, but perhaps, those who go to heaven will find out the answers to those extremely hard questions. I have read stories about hell and I believe them to be true. I'm not going to take the chance that hell doesn't exist, it's too big a risk. The Bible tells a very simple and kinda dull story about the afterlife, but isn't reality the same? We'll never see ants carrying backpacks around or cats setting the table, and to believe such a thing is true would be ridiculous, but we may see them on our table when we don't want them there! What I'm saying is that reality is boring compared to fantasy and imagination, and the truth is not always everything a person wants it to be. I can't say that what others have experienced when they nearly died, wasn't true, but it wasn't their true death; they truly died, but it wasn't THE end. As for me, I'm afraid of what I've seen and I have heard of-the eternal fire, emotional torment, regret, knowing I was made a fool of by demons (who will remind me everyday for eternity), and being subject to them (who are the ones truly at fault for the evil in the world) who bring about everything you hate the most, but worst of all knowing that it could all have been avoided if I had only listened to God and followed Him, for unlike satan who does everything for himself, He did what He did for others (sacrificed Himself so it would be possible for others to go to heaven).
Thank you for your compliments, but isn't that what we all do and need to do, keep searching, learning, etc. to find the truth, or as close as we can get, for our eternal lives? It's part of human nature to be curious and wonder. If we knew already, wouldn't it be boring? Wasn't it wonderful when we were children, to learn and discover new things, to find out the truth about them? And how the child's parents experience the joy of seeing their children growing up? Maybe that's another reason why God did not give us, when created us, all or more knowledge, so we could wonder, learn, and have the joy to experience new things. But evil takes that away from us with lies and manipulative deceptions, and making us angry for things we don't even know the answer to and even worse, accusing God for things that the one who whispered those lies to us, did-blaming God for satan's actions. "When someone falls victim to satan, they have won over him, in one way or the other (just as what happened when he crucified Jesus)." The opposite would be victimizing others along with satan; then, the person is just like him, and will share in his punishment. I read about discernment of spirits-when it's from God, it brings peace, but when it's from evil, it brings anger or bitterness. (Justified anger may be justified, but to let it take over someone, their life, and for them to go overboard with it is destructive; both for them and everyone else.) When someone is angry, there are two sides to it-the one that makes you feel like you could not do enough to show how angry you are, like in revenge and the one that makes you feel like forgiving. When angry, a person starts thinking about the circumstance and gets more angry, but at the same time, later, or afterwards, they also think of things that calm them down. Perhaps, the voice of destruction and bitterness is demons, and the voice of reason and forgiveness is from God, through their guardian angel. No matter what lies they tell me, I still hold on to my faith in God, and that there must be a reason and an answer because God gives Heaven while they, who desire that I go to hell (that is the purpose of their lies), only offer hell. I think, to myself, "Doesn't that say a lot about God, and a lot about satan and his lies and what they lead to?" Like I said before, when we were children, we didn't always understand why our parents didn't tell us everything, why we weren't allowed to do certain things, or why they punished us, but now that we know, we regret the times when we hurt them for things they did to protect us and for our benefit. God is like a parent, while satan is like that person who tells you everything you want to hear so he can lure you to do whatever he wants to you, or like one who is jealous (lost it, so now, you can't have it either). No one knows everything, and some questions will go unanswered, but perhaps, those who go to heaven will find out the answers to those extremely hard questions. I have read stories about hell and I believe them to be true. I'm not going to take the chance in believing that hell doesn't exist, it's too much of a risk. The Bible tells a very simple and kinda dull story about the afterlife, but isn't reality the same? We'll never see ants carrying backpacks around or cats setting the table, and to believe such a thing is true would be ridiculous, but we may see them on our table when we don't want them there! What I'm saying is that reality is boring compared to fantasy and imagination, and the truth is not always everything a person wants it to be. I can't say that what others have experienced when they nearly died, wasn't true, but it wasn't their true death; they truly died, but it wasn't THE end. As for me, I'm afraid of what I've seen and I have heard of-the eternal fire, emotional torment, regret, knowing I was made a fool of by demons (who will remind me everyday for eternity), and being subject to them (who are the ones truly at fault for the evil in the world) who bring about everything you hate the most, but worst of all knowing that it could all have been avoided if I had only listened to God and followed Him, for unlike satan who does everything for himself, He did what He did for others (sacrificed Himself so it would be possible for others to go to heaven).
The answer is very simple. Because "god" does not exist. There is a higher spiritual dimension/plane, call it what you will. But there is no all powerful, all seeing, all knowing "god" floating around somewhere up there whom made us in "his" image. Religion serves two purposes. The first: from the relm of superstition, 'priests' invented "god" in order to sieze and maintain power over the masses. This is still true today. The vatican is not about saving your soul, it's about money and power. Second: humans have a deep need to feel as though they belong. But to what? Religion serves that purpose and feeds back into number one. If there ever was a "god", it was most likely a being or beings, most likely in humanoid form, from beyond our solar system who ruled humans using technology and/or fear. So back to your question... why? Because it doesn't exist.
Reality can be wonderful and exciting: To see a world in a grain of sand And a heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand And eternity in an hour. William Blake Which then begs the questions "Where did they come from?", and "Why don't they show themselves?"
Hi Lily, How do you know all this stuff? I just call myself agnostic because I have studied many religions, and as interesting as they seem I don't feel God in any of them. It would make it so simple to say, well I don't feel God therefore he or she does not exist. But I cannot believe God does not exist either. I have known people like you that say they pray and get answers on what direction to take in life. People that are unshakable in there faith because they can feel God close to them. I guess my problem is that I don't feel God like you do, and can't pretend to or I would be living a lie. I think it would be nice to say, "ok Jesus how do you think I could get myself out of this mess?" "Allright Jesus what should I do now?"...But I just don't get an answer back. Either he is not talking to me or maybe I'm just deaf.