pattygreen

Get a grip on yourself. I was being sarcastic. I can gladly say that I did not vote for him. Just like Obama plans for us to bail out those who were greedy and self centered on wallstreet and in the banking industry, and just like he plans for us to pay for each others health care, and just like he wants each of us to pay for everyone elses needs and wants in this country, so Nadia is doing the same. If youre not complaining about Obama's eratical spending spree, you have no place to complain about hers. He's doing the same thing. Spending money he doesn't have and has no way to repay it, taking from the people and handing it out to those who wont work, This is what socialism is all about. She's just taking advantage of what Obama wants for everyone in this country. A hand out. If you don't like what she is doing, just wait to see what you'll be paying for in the future in this country. TRILLIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ever heard of circumstantial evidence? There is plenty of that. One that comes to mind.....Why would the 12 apostles who witnessed Jesus' life and miracles and death and resurrection give their lives for something that was a lie? They believed Jesus was God come in the flesh for mankind and staked their very own lives on it. Not just one of them, but all of them did. They each died for bringing the gospel to the people at different times and in different ways. Their testimonies of what happened were witnessed by thousands of people. We never saw Abraham Lincoln, but we believe in his writings and what is told about him.

Obama doesn't mind giving our money to those who don't have health care, and to those who don't work for it? Why should we? After all, more than half the votes went to him. It's like FDR's new deal. Socialism. If it's ok for the rest of the country to get bailed out, why not for her. What's another million?

People claim to not believe in God because it is 'not scientific' or for 'lack of proof'. The true reason is that once people admit that there is a God, they also must realize that they are responsible to God and in need of forgiveness from him. If God exists then we are accountable for our actions to him. If God does not exist, then we can do whatever we want without having to worry about God judging us. That is why evolution is so strongly clung to by many in our society-- to give people an alternative to believing in a creator, God. God exists and ultimately in each mans heart, they know he exists. The very fact that some attempt so aggressively to disprove His existence is in fact an arguement for his existence.

carrie, I am glad that you think that way. Jesus does want to be our friend. He said he would stick closer to you than a brother. For me, it has been wonderful to have God to rely on through every hard trial and even through the joys in my life.

green, those who seek after God don't want a 'buddy' per se, they would like a relationship with their heavenly Father, the one who created them. Actually, God made man in his image, not the other way around. When I pray to God, I am simply 'talking' to him. It doesn't take away from his power or glory, because we don't speak directly to the father, we speak to him through his son, Jesus. Jesus is our mediator. Because God sent us his son, we can go boldly before his throne and ask anything in Jesus' name and God said that if it is according to his will, then we will have what we ask for. What do you mean when you say that by making him your friend you are putting words in his mouth?

There is nothing wrong with a strong adherence to a set of beliefs dispite critiscm or unpopularity. Just a thought though, if you are a spiritual believer in God, then do you agree that one of your responsibilities to him is to share your beliefs with others? What about Jesus' parable of the talents in Matthew 25, where we see his anger at keeping the good news to yourself?

Here is an interesting experience that my husband and I had. We had just finished having sex one morning and seconds later my 2 year old son, Jeremiah, ran through our bedroom door and jumped on the bed for hugs. He quickly pointed to my stomach and said, Mommy, you have a baby in there!" My husband and I looked at each other in shock, and said, "Who's he, Jeremiah the prophet?" and started laughing. We wondered how he could know about babies in stomachs, cause he was so young and we never taught him anything like that. He actually just learned to talk not much before that. We didn't think about it again until two weeks later when I hadn't gotten my period. I was always right on time, so when I was just 2 days late, I bought a pregnancy test and it was positive. We looked at each other and recalled the moment of conception and how Jeremiah 'fortold' this news to us. God,being the author of life,certainly has a sense of humor, and he uses even the little children to reveal himself and make himself known.

The question was posed for a simple reason... It is good for man to ponder it. If non believers came to believe, that would be nice. It is ultimately every mans responsibility to seek and search for themselves whether God is real or not. The bible teaches that if men seek after God, He will reveal himself to them. I can not 'prove' to anyone that God is real. That takes personal faith. I can only share what I know of him, and my own experiences with him. I, for one, have no doubt whatsoever that God is real and He does exist.

Those who lived before Jesus' time looked forward to a coming Savior and could put their faith in him for salvation, and those who lived after jesus' time (us) looked back to a Savior who came and could put their faith in him for salvation. And yes, there has always been such a thing as Heaven.

Do you think that's true? Because I would think there has to be somewhere where the gospel of Jesus hasn't been spoken about. But I don't know. Even so, what about 500 or 1000 years ago and the people who were living then. Did they get to hear about him? What with no travel, TV, radio, or satellite dishes, how could they have?

I don't understand. what exit clause? I, too, would never tell anybody whether they were going to make it to heaven or not. I agree that only God knows what's in a mans thoughts and heart.

My son asked me last night why some people who never heard about Jesus in other countries may not go to heaven. God says that all mankind will have an opportunity to believe in him in their own hearts. A man who never heard the word 'christianity' or the name 'Jesus' will still have no excuse before God, because nature and all creation itself reveals to mankind that there is a creator and a God. So even a man who lives in Timbucktoo and is without civilization or a bible can ponder in their hearts if there is a God and be able to come to a conclusion.

Judgement is a formal decision given by a court or the final judging of humankind by God. I would not even guess at what the final decision of God is for anyone but myself. Therefore, I judge noone. I can tell others what God has told me through his word, but that is not making a judgement. If some who hears his words feels convicted, (maybe because they do not believe in him and according to what he says their life after death will be without him), it is not me judging them. It is themselves judging themselves. Just like I can only judge myself.

Jesus is my pastor. I consult with him every day. Thanks though.

Preaching is commanded of God. "Go into all the world and tell others what you have heard." So if you want to call my 'telling' 'preaching', go ahead. And , Yes, I would love for all to agree with me. For I believe that what God has taught me to be true. Therefore, if it is true, if others don't believe it, they will go through their eternity with the absence of their creator. To me, it's of the utmost importance. For if what I believe is true, then this life is but a breath, and what matters is eternity. As far as taking disagreement, I take that very well. Many people disagree with me. So what?

Some have asked how a loving God could allow suffering in the world. Consider what the world would be like if it could be as fair as we want it to be. No accidents could happen, no criminal act could occur, no natural disaster could affect us. That kind of world would have no logic. The natural laws that govern cause and effect would have to be different in every circumstance. Would God stop carelessness and irresponsibility? People from being hurt or getting diseases or illnesses? What about death? He would have to if sorrow and suffering were to be eliminated. During our entire life, we would be like helpless babies, always under the interventionists eyes of our spiritual God. We would no longer be free moral agents or thinking beings, allowed to consider possible courses of action and to make choices. Love is a choice that we all make. God doesn't want his children to be with him if they don't want to be. What's love if it is forced or demanded? God must allow evil and suffering if he is to allow human free will. Hell is a place without God and all that he is. (love, peace, goodness, kindness, justice, mercy, etc.)If someone will not come to God and doesn't want his love and goodness, then what choice does he have, but to grant their request? So there is the answer as to why God made such a place as hell. All souls live forever, so where else should he put the unbelievers?

It's not the debating that upsets me, for I expect debate since there are so many differing opinions,..... it's the insults, I guess.

I believe you are mistaking 'informing' as 'judgement'. When I bring information that I know about to this post, I am judging noone. The judgement comes when you relate the info to yourself or others. I believe that only God knows each persons heart and whether they will go to heaven or hell. (For judgement is the final destination, as in the judge made his decision) I want you to show me exactly where I formed a judgement on anyone here.

Also, I'm happy that you didn't allow your fathers swaying to and from God and church to keep you from having a relationship with him.

Please forgive me, gone 4ever. This is a thread to discuss beliefs, and all are definitely invited. I was not upset that people don't agree with me. I know and expect differing views, it's just that some here, that I have a history with on other threads, have gotten angry with me and asked me not to bring God into all my conversations elsewhere. Now they are here and still have animosity towards me. This is what I guess upset me. Anything I said was not directed towards you. sorry. ------------------------------------------------- I think that if people would not look at what others in their differing christian faiths or denominations are doing and how they are living, and their wrongs and hypocritical actions, and what this priest or pastor or authority figure did, or how their parents raised them, or how this or that church operates and just concentrated on building their own relationship with God, there would be no problem. I think they should just go to God for themselves and not use what other christians do or don't do as their excuse for not seeking after him.

I hoped to get away from all of those who didn't want to talk about God on other threads, by starting a thread that was specifically about God. This way, those who didn't want to talk about God didn't have to participate. To my surprise, he's a hot topic. Even to some of the Atheists who don't even believe he exists. That's like starting a thread to talk about the tooth fairy. Why are you atheists here? You don't believe in him. So, I don't understand your interest.

It hasn't? Well, maybe they don't come right out and call names, but they have their way of being hurtful.

Who is doing his judging for him?

I see you are in your 50's, so you're not being raised by athiests anymore, so why can't you believe?