...And then there are the days He is silent.

[chimp3]

I hope all is well for you drich. Your troubles have been heard but not your childish reliance on your sky fairy. Grow up!

[Minimalist]

“The gods don’t care about men, no more than kings care about peasants.”

Kings, however, do have the advantage of existing.

[chimp3]

God is an imaginary favorite blankie you can carry around while you suck your thumb. We all need crutches some time.

[Harry Nevis]

Here's the question you should ask... If you had an incomplete idea of God (no matter where it came from) why would God support it? because if God supported a bad idea of him then you would think that bad version of God to be accurate. Rather God sets a standard of Himself and we must A/S/K to find it when we do, we find God. God genuinely shows up. You will know it is God because he brings understand that you truly have no knowledge of. It can be like being uploaded 'kung fu' on the matrix.

---

Where would we get this "incomplete" idea of god?  Where else?  The bible and his followers.  And how many different (dare I say incomplete) ideas of your god are floated around by those who have done the A/S/K? a pantload.  How many have sincerely wanted to believe, but god didn't show up?  Plenty more.  If your god loves us so much, it's pretty strange that he would ignore someone with an "incomplete" idea of him (after all, they must be acknowledging his existence) without setting them straight.  Doesn't seem to be really interested in how sincere someone feels, or the fact that any info on him is contradictory, but more like toeing the line on little details to see if you pass muster.  But I'm sure god has told you that I am wrong.  It sounds more like people rationalizing their emotional beliefs.

---

It's not the reason why that is compelling, it's the fact that someone who lived 2000 years ago was sent forward to record what he saw, and it is proving out to be accurate.

It's like just because you know how a watch is made does not mean their isn't a watch maker.

Do you understand??

Knowing how God does something does not mean God isn't responsible. or in this case knowing why there are more natural disasters doesn't mean God did not have someone record what he saw and had him describe it the best he could.

---

Yeah, because there are no other books from 2000 years ago describing what the authors saw. Please.

No one who knows how a watch is made thinks there is no watchmaker.  That's just stupid.  I do understand.  It's just not what you want me to understand.  Because what you want me to understand makes no sense,

[LastPoet]

Honestly Drich for your familys sake, hope everything gets better. You also should work to fix things. As to you, you can praise god for breaking the "silence" when things get better.

[Pat Mustard]

You mean every day, Dripshit?

[Mister Agenda]

Hope you get through these rough times okay, Drich. Best of luck to you and your family.

[Faith No More]

Good stuff happens - "It's proof of god!."

Bad stuff happens - "He's just testing me..."

Unfalsifiable claims FTW!

(Mental Note: It's time to get my three year-old to give up his blankie.)

[Isis]

I hope things get better for you, Drich.  

[Neo-Scholastic]

First, let me echo the sentiments of your other well-wishers. I'm reminded of the inscription inside King Solomon's ring - "This too shall pass." The good times never last and bad times fade away. i was particularly touched by your reconciliation with your father.

Divine hiddenness is very difficult. It is the primary problem that lead me towards atheism in the past. Even after coming to faith, I cannot say that God in any direct way speaks to me or even provides much guidance. The clear guidance God gave to you in the past is a gift that I cannot say I have much enjoyed. The "soft, still voice" always seems too soft and too still. I have other reasons for my assurance in the workings of Providence. There are many ways to 'hear' God, not the least of which is the sometimes painful recognition of how much we rely upon His Grace.

That said, I think it a mistake to tangle up your commercial business with your inner spiritual life. You run the risk of falling into the trap of a prosperity gospel. Scripture tells us that the sun shines on the righteous and the wicked alike.

I also found your step of examining your life for unrecognized sin very disturbing. This is the flip-side of the prosperity gospel heresy. The bible gives us no assurance that our lives will be easy and problem free. If anything believers should expect greater difficulties. Your problems are not a punishment for sin. That's just bad 700 Club theology. AIDS was not God's judgement on homosexuals nor was Hurricane Katrina vengeance on an unrighteous city. Until the New Jerusalem arrives we will live in a world corrupted by sin. When Paul says to rejoice in all things and that included the times of stress and great trouble, not just when things are going good.

Nevertheless, I will keep you in my prayers in the hope that the Holy Spirit will make His presence known to you in a powerful way.