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Joshua once stopped the sun to continue fighting Israel's enemies for an extra day.... maybe he singlehandedly reversed the earth's spin, like superman... does that count?
well phen, you're the one that said it, because thats the way you're wired. funny you don't think your dad had anything to do with that download.
post all pictures of demons, please.
Joshua once stopped the sun to continue fighting Israel's enemies for an extra day.... maybe he singlehandedly reversed the earth's spin, like superman... does that count?
For you.
Matthew 16:17-Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven
Sigh, your missing my point. Time is a human conception of measurement. If a human does not exsist to define time, does the concept of time exsist?
How can something exsist if nothing of capable intellegence is there to define it?
No. The concept of time does not exist.
You can measure God's presense (in a sense) through prayer.
How can you objectively measure God's presence through prayer? I tried many times through the first 19 years of my life when I was a believer, and never got anything but a one-way conversation.
You could have said just that and saved me some typing.
I agree, no accidents are planned.
Complete fallacy. You can absolutely have a purpose, even if you were created by accident. I don't see where this is 'illogical' at all. Unless you're referring again to this unsubstantiated notion of 'eternal purpose'.
The mistake is that you think Natural evolution is accidental. And it's actually a causality of different factors. You could even predict the extinction of a species based on different parameters. That's no accident at all.
Yet there are millions of people who testify differently.
I have felt Gods power. Not the power of suggestion. Not the power of Mind tricks. But really the Power and conviction of the supernatural.
If you have not felt anything it does not take away the fact that there is a creator.
We ourselves are called as Christians to be a witness.
But in regards to your current argument, consider these verses...Matthew 5:13- You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
2 Timothy 2:2-
And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.
Hebrews 11:1- Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
John 20: 24-29-
Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.
So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"
But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 27Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
My spiritual Father is GOD. You don't see me bashing you with the intent to cause ridicule by posting your beliefs in my signature... Oh well, little do you know that all you've been doing is spreading a message you don't particularly believe in. How you like dem apples?
Even if I could... that would prove nothing. Your unbelief stems from your heart, not from your senses. In essence you have made a conscious choice not to believe in GOD, despite the fact that everything around us speaks volumes of His nature - "The Heavens declare the Glory of GOD, and the firmament showeth His handiwork."
One day however, all humans will see Jesus himself triumphantly return to earth from the heavens, unfortunately for many - it will be too late to have a change of heart.
I would say that my thoughts are very much in line with yours. I think to lose out on the context within which the Bible was written is to lose the richness of it. I do not believe that everything in it is to be taken literally- that does not mean it is not inspired, just that its intentions are to instruct in the spiritual life and not in the biological realgm. I believe all its spiritual teachings to be true but its methods of storytelling are there to instruct in ways in which people can understand. Even Jesus spoke in parables that were not literal. For example, I do not believe that a 900 year old man literally gathered two of every species and got them all onto his boat.
I also think in a large sense that it really does not matter. Seriously. If the stories are literal or not does not effect my faith because the spiritual truths are all that really matter. The point is the belief that God created us- not how He did it or or in how many days.
I also do not personally know any Jewish people who take those early Genesis stories literally and it is their book after all.
"the church" is being "persecuted".
Which church?
How is it being "persecuted" by a "secularist agenda"?
Details?
Links?
I call "bull " on this. I want to see some sort of proof for this assertion.
Because I can measure the benefits I've recieved being in God's presence, vesus the struggles I faced being outside of his presence.
Therefore, I choose to be in the presence of God.
I cannot provide an answer for your situation, because I'm unaware of the details. More so, it would require that I place some type of judgment upon your spitual faith, your heart, and situations and events which nurture spirtual growth. I am not capable, nor qualified to make those judgments.
I can only offer you an example of what has worked in my life.
Being in the presence of God, having a relationship with Jesus Christ, has been beneficial and continues to be beneficial in my life.
Eternal Purpose is exactly what i am speaking of. On the topic of evolution. I am no scientist but i dont have a little knowledge on the subject.
Just like Creationism. Evolution is a theory that cannot be proven due to lack of evidence-In the Beginning. Just like Creationism. Its the beginning that is the stumbling block. Most Scientists who support the theory of Evolution claim that it started with the "big bang". which again cannot be proven with imperical evidence.
No matter how you look at it. The beginning of time and earth cannot be proven with tangible evidence but has to be looked at with faith and logic.
you don't know about religion beyond the teachings of your father. i grew up in belfast where they didn't deny their preaching was anything other than projecting their influence. you will likely never see to what extent they are willing to create chaos and murder as being noble for their cause, in their gods name. you tend to deny the history. it's always been nothing more than what powerful people "agreed to believe".
So you do it for what YOU get out of it?
You didn't answer the question. If it does happen, what you would believe then? Would you *STILL* believe you're going to be facing God?How is it plausible to you than aliens could appear to me but not at all conceivable to you that the God of the Universe will appear to you?
We will see who appears and who doesn't.
Spolier alert: Jesus is the only one returning.
One question at a time.
The clearest example I can give you is what you likely refer to as your conscience.
Man is a spirit, he has a soul ( mind, will, and emotions) and lives in a body.
The spirit is what lives forever. Your spirit is what chooses either to align itself with God or Satan and that determines the priorities and behaviors of your mind, will, and emotions.
God speaks to me through his Holy Spirit, who at my acceptance of Christ came to live in me, to help my spirit as I follow Jesus.
John 4: 23-24-
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
John 16:12-14
"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.
John 14: 15-21
"If you love me, you will obey what I command.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[ in you.
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.
On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
Acts 1:1-8-
In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.
After His suffering, He showed Himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
On one occasion, while He was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not is leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.
For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
So when they met together, they asked Him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
He said to them: "It not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
You guys should read the God Thread, in the Classic Forum (except BB, he posted in it).
Why such belligerence. Anyways, my lunch break at work is over; so I won't be able to respond.
Moreover, even if I point these things out, you will try to explain them away as justified acts of reasoning. You have little context to measure the damage that such acts are doing to the church.
But off the top of my head;
1). Proposed laws in California that deny mothers the right to 'homeschool' their children, simply because a few irresponsible parents failed to properly conduct homeschooling sessions. Laws that make it harder to legally sanction the homeschooling practice - requiring mothers to have accredited teaching certificates. This raises the question: Since when has the state been 100% effective at educating its students? Why the double standard? Oh yeah, because most of these 'homeshooled' households have religious reasons for choosing said system as their method of choice. Liberal California lawmakers can't have any of that!!! All children must be instructed by the state at a 75% success clip. No ifs, and, or buts...
2) Proposed laws that want to qualify certain passages in the Bible as "hate speech," and that ministers refrain from preaching about said passages from the pulpit. GOD hates the sin, and loves the human. It is the calling of the church to steer society's burdened souls toward GOD's redemptive love. Calling a sin by its name is not tantamount to condemnation of the sinner.
The difference is that Evolution is a theory that can be tested, scrutinized, and so far has not been directly contradicted by researching our past.
Creationism, on the other hand, cannot be tested, scrutinized, and so far HAS been contradicted by the research in our past. Or you do believe in man walking with Dinosaurs 4000 years ago?
Actually, I disagree. I think it has to be looked scientifically. How does looking at it with 'faith' will advance any knowledge of how it happened?
Talk about unqualifiable assertions.... Now suddenly I have no sentient thoughts of my own?
People ultimately act on the desires of their hearts.
Men are inherently corrupt.
GOD gave humanity the free will to act independently from His Will.
Those three statements are not mutually exclusive. What happened in Ireland is tragic; GOD was not responsible for that. It's sad, however that the evil of this world has pushed you away from GOD instead of drawing you closer to Him.
Faith is applied at whatever you believe that you cannot prove 100%.
the same applies with Evolution. Creationism actually parallels alot with the evidence that Science has. You gotta look it up. For example. The Bible contains so many scientific facts that has proved science wrong years in advance.
Also The Bible speaks of a worldwide disaster wiping out the earths population and Science itself has evidence that speaks volumes that this testimony could actually be true.
Matthew 22:29-
Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God
2 Timothy 3:16-
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness
Revelation 22:17-20The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.
And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon."
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus
,What does this mean really? What does it mean to "know" Jesus? I think it's safe to say you're not claiming you have met or talked to him. So what do you mean?
I do know Jesus, personally.
Jesus is a personal God interested in the transformation of each individual life.
An example of this is the Conversion of the Apostle Paul.
Acts 9: 1-6-
And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
Acts 9:10-22
And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?
But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
As for me, I know Jesus through His Word, which he wrote for me ( so I and all of us might know Him and His ways).
Again 2 Timothy 3:16-
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
Also, I know him as I communicate with him through daily prayer daily which is daily answered.
Also, I learn of Jesus simply by looking around me.
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.
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