RE: Prayer
December 6, 2016 at 9:37 am
(This post was last modified: December 6, 2016 at 10:04 am by Drich.)
(December 5, 2016 at 11:46 am)robvalue Wrote: It's when he talks back you need to worry.
Content and Context as with anything else.
If what He says bears out to be true, then why would one need fear truth?
(December 5, 2016 at 12:19 pm)ApeNotKillApe Wrote: Never known anyone else to be so insecure about their own existence that they need round the clock acknowledgement simply for being a thing.
example?
(December 5, 2016 at 2:12 pm)Stimbo Wrote:(December 5, 2016 at 11:46 am)robvalue Wrote: It's when he talks back you need to worry.
![[Image: 8e0c696a8d00b4d995a995407e3c1423.jpg]](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/8e/0c/69/8e0c696a8d00b4d995a995407e3c1423.jpg)
Because as it has been pointed out by one of you already, there is a narrowly defined path from which we have been given the opportunity to 'speak to God.' Hair dryers are not apart of that path.
It would be as unlikely for the hair dryer to yield a result as your own personal efforts did. Once you see God move a great obstacle in your life or one you hear and take direction from God, then one begins to understand things must be on His terms and not our own.
(December 5, 2016 at 3:16 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote: I can understand being irritated at people for praying *in place of* actively helping if they can. Everyone should be irritated by that - Christians and non Christians alike.
But it seemed like the OP and several posts after that, didnt the make that specification.
Speaking to those in whom CL was speaking to:
James 2 James spoke harshly against those who 'well wish' and do nothing to fill a need.
14 My brothers and sisters, if a person claims to have faith but does nothing, that faith is worth nothing. Faith like that cannot save anyone. 15 Suppose a brother or sister in Christ comes to you in need of clothes or something to eat. 16 And you say to them, “God be with you! I hope you stay warm and get plenty to eat,” but you don’t give them the things they need. If you don’t help them, your words are worthless. 17 It is the same with faith. If it is just faith and nothing more—if it doesn’t do anything—it is dead.
18 But someone might argue, “Some people have faith, and others have good works.” My answer would be that you can’t show me your faith if you don’t do anything. But I will show you my faith by the good I do. 19 You believe there is one God. That’s good, but even the demons believe that! And they shake with fear.
20 You fool! Faith that does nothing is worth nothing. Do you want me to prove this to you?
(December 5, 2016 at 3:46 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote: I don't think you understand how our beliefs work.
We don't believe in a God who is a wizard with a magic wand and who will make food appear out of thin air for the poor people we pray for. That's not really how it works. When we "pray for the poor," our hope is not for something supernatural, but for them to be granted some emotional strength to get through tough times... or for some sort of difference in the hearts of the people around them. For a walker-by to feel empathy and give food or offer a job, for example. Or for the poor person to find emotional peace while battling through.
...things like that.
I have asked for people to pray for me before, because I'm a Christian and it brings me comfort to know that ppl are praying for me. Likewise, I let ppl know when I pray for them bc I want to give them the same comfort I get when others pray for me. No selfishness.
^This..
Again prayer is not about getting wishes granted it is about changing the heart and the mind of the one praying, to the point they are willing to fill those needs they see/pray about.
(December 5, 2016 at 4:07 pm)Stimbo Wrote:(December 5, 2016 at 3:52 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote: Both are perfectly justifiable reasons to feel irritated. Imho.
Here's another example. I know you don't have to take my testimony at face value, but it is what it is.
I've spoken enough - far too much, actually - of the trouble that Shell and I have been having with a guy who believes himself to be xtian (when it suits him, anyway). He is truly unbalanced, manipulative, domineering, and a really detestable piece of work. A couple of months ago, she was in his car, despite all my exhortations against having anything to do with him, and she rang me up so I could hear him kicking off at her. What I heard on that call chilled me to the core and will never leave me.
He was quite literally deranged. He was screaming and babbling about Shell being possessed of an unclean spirit and kept ordering it to leave her body. He was shouting to his lord to come down and save her and him, I mean literally screaming it out like some drugged-up televangelist. When she tried to say anything, he shouted at her viciously - she told me right in her face - to shut up and stop disrespecting his praying. He started spouting random gibberish, which is supposed to be speaking in tongues. I couldn't see him, thank fuck, but I imagined and Shell later confirmed that he was shaking, sweating, blood vessels bulging, eyes popping, drooling, basically he'd lost it. It was the closest I've ever been to true insanity. I kept telling Shell to get the fuck out of that car and to a place with other people. This is a guy, you may remember, who once tried to push her out of a moving vehilce into oncoming traffic. Who knows what the fuck he was going to do in this utterly deranged state?
Thankfully, he calmed down enough to give her chance to get out of there and escape. But she still has nightmares about him coming into her home and doing it again.
I truly wish I was making this up.
....And if that weren't an example of prayer? Or really anything outside this guys idea of religion?
Truly, when did Christ or any of the Apostles ever have to make a show like that ever in the bible? Just one command is given to exorcise a demon or even a whole legion of them was ever used.
