...so much error, so little time!
I would be up all night responding to each of you.
The theme here is Faith and its measure of irrationality?
I gave all of you a sampling of my Faith. It didn't sprout up over night, from some vision of God in my my toast.
But, in the 15 or so years we have been praying for others, there have been too many prayers answered to ignore. And to be 100% truthful, even in the face of these so called "miracles", I was happy, but I wasn't convinced!
Ironically what has convinced me to some degree were the things that didn't workout: One in particular was a man who said our prayers wouldn't help him. He was right. A few days later he was dead. That was a shock and surprise. Because we prayed for him anyway and expected him to live!
So, there is an instance of the "person" who flat out didn't believe. I'm assuming now that you have to believe in prayer to have it work for you. Now there is a factor for you to chew on, why prayer doesn't work in 'every' instance.
And there were a few more things we prayed for that didn't workout. And at some point later on, it became apparent to us "why" they didn't. But ... it all added up over time that God was indeed answering our prayers. More times, than not. And with reason, and understanding given to us as to "why", and "why not"!
I'm with you all on the doubt issue. I was there for many years. And I will concede that I don't have the kind of evidence you need to believe. But, you have to understand its not about "making" you believe anything. There is no urgency on my part for you to believe me.. It works for me.
No. The important thing is that I know! I was once like you. I needed evidence.... even in the face of "miracles". I realize now that Faith is what this life is based on. If God is to work in our lives, it has to be around all of "our" free choice. And we need to understand those "workings". That is not easy to do unless you have a complete understanding, and intimate relationship with God, through Faith. Rom 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
But again, how can i impart my understanding to you? It won't make a bit of sense. I've come to realize that all I'm doing here on this atheists forum is "maybe" helping some of the 100's of casual readers who might be on the fence, and/or get a boost from my debates with you non-believers. I don't expect to reach any one of you here. At least not in a spiritual way.
I have one simple rule: Help everyone in some way, that I come in contact with. Even you guys! With all this great advice I'm bestowing on you now!
I try to serve my fellow human beings, and not focus on myself too much. It keeps me humble, and Christlike!
And that, in the end is all that God wants from us! To Love Him, and one another.
Matt 25:40 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'
I would be up all night responding to each of you.
The theme here is Faith and its measure of irrationality?
I gave all of you a sampling of my Faith. It didn't sprout up over night, from some vision of God in my my toast.
But, in the 15 or so years we have been praying for others, there have been too many prayers answered to ignore. And to be 100% truthful, even in the face of these so called "miracles", I was happy, but I wasn't convinced!
Ironically what has convinced me to some degree were the things that didn't workout: One in particular was a man who said our prayers wouldn't help him. He was right. A few days later he was dead. That was a shock and surprise. Because we prayed for him anyway and expected him to live!
So, there is an instance of the "person" who flat out didn't believe. I'm assuming now that you have to believe in prayer to have it work for you. Now there is a factor for you to chew on, why prayer doesn't work in 'every' instance.
And there were a few more things we prayed for that didn't workout. And at some point later on, it became apparent to us "why" they didn't. But ... it all added up over time that God was indeed answering our prayers. More times, than not. And with reason, and understanding given to us as to "why", and "why not"!
I'm with you all on the doubt issue. I was there for many years. And I will concede that I don't have the kind of evidence you need to believe. But, you have to understand its not about "making" you believe anything. There is no urgency on my part for you to believe me.. It works for me.
No. The important thing is that I know! I was once like you. I needed evidence.... even in the face of "miracles". I realize now that Faith is what this life is based on. If God is to work in our lives, it has to be around all of "our" free choice. And we need to understand those "workings". That is not easy to do unless you have a complete understanding, and intimate relationship with God, through Faith. Rom 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
But again, how can i impart my understanding to you? It won't make a bit of sense. I've come to realize that all I'm doing here on this atheists forum is "maybe" helping some of the 100's of casual readers who might be on the fence, and/or get a boost from my debates with you non-believers. I don't expect to reach any one of you here. At least not in a spiritual way.
I have one simple rule: Help everyone in some way, that I come in contact with. Even you guys! With all this great advice I'm bestowing on you now!
I try to serve my fellow human beings, and not focus on myself too much. It keeps me humble, and Christlike!
And that, in the end is all that God wants from us! To Love Him, and one another.
Matt 25:40 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'
Quis ut Deus?
