Ron Cusano

God can and does heal, but most often we have to experience illness and certainly death in this world because the world is contaminated by sin. Our reward is in eternity. We are like strangers here in this world waiting to go home to our eternal place with the Lord. You can tell a child not to go out into traffic. If the child does, and gets hit by a car and dies, tragic as that is, it is the natural consequesce of disobeying. Man choose to disobey God and suffers the consequence of that disobedience, with the ultimate outcome being physical death! God, in His wisdom and mercy, knowing that man, with a sinful nature, is incapable of being in the presence of a holy and sinless God, made provision for His creation. He sent Jesus to take the rap for us. Since Jesus was God incarnate, he was by virtue sinless and holy. His atoning death for us, taking our sin upon Himself, made it possible for us to be justified to God the Father. When God see's Believers, He does not see their sin any longer, but He see's the atoning blood of the messiah that covers us. Our physical bodies my become diseased and die, but we have eternal life after physical death because of what Jesus did. God didn't cause the sin problem, we did, but He provided the remedy for all who will accept it. Physical death is not the end of existance, it is the enterance into eternity.

Thank-you! I agree, and accept responsibility for my part in the misunderstandings that have taken place here. Forgive me! I do not wish to offend anyone, but I do need to speak what I understand to be the truth.

Tami, The reason why there are ministries that reach out to the Jews is because Jews have been persecuited in the name of Christianity for thousands of years, and the name of Jesus has become a curse word to them. Our role is to present the messianiac claims of Jesus to His Jewish brethern from a Jewish perspective that they can comprehend with minimal offence. Most self-respecting Jews would rather die that set foot inside a church, so it is through misinsties of this type that they can learn about Yeshua and His messianiac credentials. This is a good thing, not a bad thing. Jesus was a Jew! The Bible is a Jewish book written by Jews, for Jews about the Jewish Messiah. Nothing could be more Jewish, and yet, us Gentiles think it stange that a Jew could believe in Jesus. What is really starnge is that us Gentiles have come to believe in the God of Israel and His Messiah!

Fair enough! If you are serious, so am I and there will be no insults or remarks from me. Your definition of ministry is correct, however it is not restricted just to the clergy. The Bible teaches that all Believers are given a ministry in the service of the Lord. I understand that I can be argumentative when I feel attacked because of my faith. I apoligize for that! I am still human, imperfect and have things to work on in my life as a Believer . . . even after 30+ years. The ministry that I was called to is "messianiac" which involves sharing with Jewish folks that Jesus was and is their Messiah. As you might guess, I am often met with hostility and aggression, however, many Jewish people, especially those who have studied Talmud, prefer an argumentive style of discussion. I come across Jewish folk who are very knowledgable in Tenach (The Hebrew Scriptures) which means that I also be so, and I have studied long and hard, which only confirmed that what I believe is correct. I would never want to have to stand before God some day and know that I taught something that was not true. If anyone here wants to have serious discussion on the topic, I will go to great lengths to be helpful, informative and sensitive. When I feel that the faith that I consider the most important thing in life is put to redicule, I become very defensive, and I apoligize for that. I am offering an olive branch!

That argument does not wash and takes scripture out of context and twists it to make a point that cannot be justified! There is a lot of that going around! The account in Gen 2:7 describes when God created the first man. It is not a formular for when life begins. He created women from Adam's rib. A rib is hardly a "breathing" being. The Bible contains many verses indicating that God recoginizes life within the womb. Maybe that is why we call a pregnant women "with child"!! For instance . . . Jer 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. God "knew", "sanctified" and "ordained" Jeremiah the prophet "before he came forth out of the womb"!! But according to your logic, Jeremiah was not alive! The Bible also tells us that we are "concieved in iniquity" indicating that we inherite the sin nature from Adam from the moment of conception. Hard to do if your are an inanimate object and lot a living being. Concerning stem cell research, they most promising type is that using stem cells from the plecenta. Research to day has shown little promise or excitment using fetal stem cells. Christians are not against stem cell research, we are against killing the unborn to obtain this type of stem cell, which does not appear to hold out much hope anyway.

How do you get that "God set us up" from Him giving us Free Will? What kind of twisted logic is that? It was no "set-up" if we had free choice! Far from being cruel, God showed great love and mercy by providing payment in full for our sin, by sacrificing His Son on the cross for us. I know you don't understand why that had to be and I'm not going to explain it again so you can have something else to make snide remarks about. Zel used the reference to "Jonestown" which was a cult ministry and/or religion. Don't split hairs.

The difference is that I believe in the God of the Bible, the only true God. Your next question, I am sure, is why is the Bible true and the Qu'ran not true. Rather than beat a deah horse, read previous posts on this thread that speak to mathamatical proofs concerning the Bible and prophecy.

God gave us free will because it would not be to His glory for us to obey Him if we had no choice in the manner. He did not create robots! Even the angels have free will! Man chose sin for the same reason that Satan rebelled against God . . . PRIDE! Satan wanted to be "like the most high" and man bought the lie from Satan that if he disobeyed then "man would know the difference between good and evil" like God.

Zel . . . If you think that I have made up my own religion, then I guess you don't frequent many churches. My beliefs are the same that are preached in Conservative Christian churches all over the world and adhered to by millions of Believers. But I guess you wouldn't know about that!

As usual, you guy twist what I say and take it out of context! I guess you need to do that when it's the only argument you have. God created man perfect and sinless . . . in His own image. He also gave man free will. There was no death, sickness, no pain, no misery and the like. Man, by his own volition chose to sin, alienated himself from God, and as the result sickness, disease and pain came into the world. Thgrouh Jesus, God justified man to Himself for all who accept His free gift of salvation. This makes us fit to be in Gods presence and have eternal life, but as long as we are in this fallen world, we are subject to what the world has to offer . . . disease, pain, sickness and death!!

I am glad I could spread a little joy!! God bless!

Thank you too Gail!! Blessings!~

Victoriana, It is wonderful to meet you too, and I will pray for your friend. Shalom in the name of Sar Sharlom . . . the Prince of Peace

I don't claim to know what athiests experience, but I do know what agnostics experience because I once was one, and I suspect it is about the same. I do however know what you DON'T experience, and that is walking daily with the Lord and much spiritual blessing. Of course, people can be moral and still not be Believers. We are all created with a conscience, and a sense of right and wrong. Godly morality is somewhat different in that Christians view lifes experiences and challanges through "God Colored Glasses" if you will. I know there are many athiests that are good people by the world standards. You mentioned "AIDS is a just punishment from God"! If you knew the scriptures you would understand that all disease, sickness and even death are judgement from God against man because of sin in the world. Christians are subject to the effects of these things just like unbelievers as long as we are in this world. Standing outside clinics telling people that what ther are doing is killing innocent children . . . I wish more were doing it. Using violence to make that point is not what real Christians do. You opinion of why our "kids" are fighting in foreign lands is just that, your opinion, to which you are entitled, however there are millions who disagree with your take on that. God bless you!!

As a Christian, I am concerned with living THIS LIFE to the fullest serving Christ, the worldwide Christian church, my local congregation, my family and all people. I get great joy in my life living a moral existance, enjoying sweet fellowship and having much internal peace even in the face of worldly tribulation. Most Christians that I know, and I know many, many, all would say the same. I have lived the first 30 years of my live as an unbeliever, and the last 30+ as a Believer, and I can tell you that there is no comparison. On the other side of that coin, athiests have nothing to compare with since they have never experienced the true Christian life. If God were to call me home tonight, my only regret would be that I did not come to faith sooner.

Very eloquent and true! And some will have to look back at the truth they rejected and the opporunities they turned their back on, but it will be too late. I fact, Jesus used the parable of Lasarus, the rich man as an example of this.

Thank-you Joan! It is a blessing to hear a friendly voice here. You are right that perhaps I cold have expressed myself differently with some of those posts, but I get my back up when I hear people disrespect the Lord or the Word of God and consider it as old wives tales. I am also concerned for those who, as you know according to the Word of God, will be eternally lost because of their unbelief. Yes, it's their own responsibility, but I don't want to see anyone go to Hell because no one cared enough to tell them the truth. Someone posted that this is the only forum I posted on and that I was looking for an argument. The truth is that I post many times a day on another board where there is not this hostility, where I feel welcome, and where I have had many serious discussions with wonderful people. I will also post to other forums here as time permits. God bless!

I do belong and post on other Lap Band boards about support. In fact, I started a Lap Band Support Group here on Long Island that is a real blessing to me and many others. And, yes, I plan of posting to other forums here. You and I have had some serious disagrreement but I never sensed that what you said was only to incite trouble. BJean is another issue. Very sad!

You are a sad, sad little person with the intelligence of a stone. I will no longer waste my time responding to YOU!!

Since this thread started, I have not initiated a single post. Instead I have responded to reaction that I received on the board. Now I am making a post. The barbs and stupidity could go on endlessly. I was willing to continue here in the hope that there could be some intelligent exchange and perhaps someone could benefit from some spiritual truth. What I have seen here is a vivid example of what God said in these verses . . . Romans 1:20 - For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse Romans 1:28 - And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not covenient. Romans 1:32 - Who knowing the judgement of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. In fact, the entire first chapter on Romans speaks of the hearts of many here. I encourage you to rwad it and take it seriously. I have chosen not to continue in mindless debate with those who make a mockery out of God, therefore from this point on, I will only answer or respond to posts that are serious and sincere. I am engaged in ministry and my time and energy can better be spend being about God's business. I am lot leaving the board, as some wish I would. I will still be here only I will not respond to posts that are obvious attempts to incite arguments from insincere people. If anyone has questions or wishes to have a serious discussion, you know where to find me.

What's to judge? You said you are an athiest and I am taking you at your word. If that is true, then the Bible says you will be eternally lost. If you have a peoblem with that, take it up with God. He made the rules! And as for this BJean character, if my menory serves me correctly, you also idenified yourseld as an athiest, did you not? You accuse me of being an agitator, but if you had the capacity to be honest, you would realize that YOU have been the one who was playing this game from day one. You seem to get some sick kick out of causing trouble and blaming everyone else. I am getting a good laugh out of you making a fool out yourself. You said several posts ago that you refused to talk to me on this board anymore, and yet you have a facination with me and can't help yourself.

I do! He is my Lord! He lives in me! Why does it bother you? You don't even believe in Him!

Actually, you have it backward! If I didn't care, I would just say, hey, believe what you want even if it takes you to Hell. Not my problem! Because I do care, I can't accept a belief system that will bring you that end. You know, Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites with Satan being their Father! He told them their lack of belief would lead to damnation. And you think I have been harsh! Jesus didn't hate them, he hated their belief system. I don't hate athiests or anyone here, I hate the belief system. Yes, there is a difference.

Great verse! So what is your point? I don't hate anyone if that is what you are implying!! If I am not mistaking, you said you were an athiest! Interesting that you would choose to quote scripture that you don't believe in.

I am sure He see's what my attitude is toward other beliefs, and that He is very pleased. The Bible says that the "ONLY way to the Father is through Messiah Jesus", so if I discount other belief systems, it is only because God does as well.