I'm sorry my christian brothers and sisters, but I gotta say this.
I have heard so many times expressions like: "I work so hard, yet I can't get what I want. God does not listen my prayers." or "I don't know what happen I pray everyday, yet in my work everything goes wrong." This are examples of extremes within christianity as far as i understand.
Prayer is the most important source of strength for the person. Read very good strength.
The rest of the things we have to do in this world are up to us.
Ofcourse this world and its events belong to God, but we are the ones who are in this world, so we are the ones who have to get things done and moving.
We can't lay down waiting for God to do things for us. God has done enough creating this world, giving us life, and skills to live. The rest depends upon us.
Yesterday, an atheist said something interesting. Humans have to take responsability upon their lives, we can't be blaming God for everything or waiting for God to do things for us.
(Another proof on how atheists are faithful servants of God. God used this nonbeliever to tell us something which is true.)
So my brother and my sister keep praying hard, but while we pray we have to move our butts and get going.
God have done enough in granting us life.

TLW

Hmmmm..."God writes straight with crooked lines?", anyone? Usually the most militant Christians blame atheists and agnostics for all the evil in the world.

-Kerry O.

A person says that thay dont believe that god exists, Because bad things happen, starvation, murder,the WIFE form here on the 11th and 12th, And other horrible things, If god was real then bad things
would not happen, So how do bad things happen? people cause them 2 happen, someone dont like someone else so they hurt them, kill them ect. GOD cannot cause things to happen good or bad IF god dose not exist. SO people are responsible for the way the world is,Or is not.
People messing things up by themselves dose not prove or disprove GOD, A group of folks who let another group starve 2 death cannot say 'GOD allowed that 2 happen so GOD dont exist'
I guess thay could say it, all they wanted to, BUT it would not be right.

How strange is that? Usually most militant atheists and agnostics blame Christians for all the evils in the world. We are not all "militant" just as atheists and agnostics, muslims, what have you, are not all militants. Your comment appears to be an all encompassing and narrow view of Christians. God writing straight with crooked lines? Yes he can. I am living proof.

Oh, hi Steve! Missed me on here, didn't you? :)

Years ago, just after Al Gore invented the Internet, I used to post in spaces where there was about a 50/50 mix of militant atheists and evangelicals. Got to be that after a while, one could barely tell the difference, each becoming a different side of the same coin.

If you'll recall, I'm one of the first people in these particular forums to take the ThomasJeffesonian view, e.g., (paraphrased)it doesn't break my legs or pick my pocket if my neighbor believes in none, one or twenty Gods.

And, I _specifically_ singled out _militant_ Christians. I believe there is definitely a Religious Left in this county, you just never hear from them. I'm on mailing lists with several, and everyone gets along just fine.


-Kerry O.

Hey Kerry! Yes I am glad to see you back. Thought you ran off and got married!

LOL! You're a braver soul than I. Besides, where would *I* find a conservative woman to run off with, being a short, baby-faced blonde progressive?! :)



-Kerry O.

What is a "progressive"? You know, so many people make praying out to be a wish list or list of demands. The Bible, which Christians are to filter everything thru, has a lot to say about praying. To me it's plain ole open communication with God, thru Christ. Not a program or a ritual. I like talking to God! I have had many prayers answered. Some really stupid ones, too, and He must have shook His head with a smile and said, "Oh, why not?" I remember one thing I really thought I needed, but didn't get. I was pretty let down. Then a couple years later, I thought, "Oh, no wonder! I'm so glad I didn't get that!" My earthly father didn't give me things that he knew weren't good for me when I was a kid, either. I think sometimes that's the way it is. The ones I don't understand about, I figure is for the best, and I'll understand here or in Eternity.

My first flowers here! lol...thank you.

I pray whether I figure I'll get what I want or not and whether I feel if it's right or not. I wouldn't know for sure.

With me out there on the road, people better pray!

I believe that we should fend for ourselves in life, but that we should ask God for help. There's a lot of things I can't do for myself and that's what I ask for help with.

I can't reach where other people are at, but I pray for them anyway. I can reach where I am at, but I pray for me anyway.
But I won't just sit still and wait for answers. Some of my answers take three days to arrive. Some arrive right away and some don't arrive at all.

I believe that prayer, going to church, taking communion, fellowship, worship, discipleship, ministry and mission work all are necessary for a Christian to grow and to be strengthened. You can omit any of them, of course, but you might not get as much out of things as you might otherwise. I know for sure it is true for me. All I can tell you for sure is what happens to me and what I happen to think and learn, you know?

God Bless You All.

Geo.

I think a progressive is one who uses modern worship techniques: bands, flat screens with lyrics projected and etc. etc. It's the name of a current Christian movement. I'll probably look it up on the web, Google it and find out more about it.

Sorry....did that wrong!
Yeah, none of us knows it all, none of us perfect. Hopefully, I'm understanding more, but the more I do, the more I realize how much I DON'T know! I think that's the point: I can never be good enough/know enough, by myself, to be worth a perfect God's time. Good thing I don't have to be! That's where Christ comes in. I agree with all you said, yashafox. All we can walk in is what we understand and have faith in right now. The Bible says that God judges the thoughts and intents of our hearts....He knows what we really mean and what we really intend to do.
Ah! "progressive". The churches that have become slick programs, and entertainment? God can use it all, but I don't know if I'd want a Christian Disneyland. But to each his own, and it's for God to judge. Long as Truth is preached and love is there!

The apostle Paul did say, "Faith without works is dead...". Sometimes I'm not sure what God wants me to do and what He wants me to wait on. That's another thing I have to pray about a lot. It's harder for me to wait than jump in. Course, sometimes I've gotten both "ankles broke" by doing that!

I think the Lord wants us to accept him, love him, and love other people. I think any effort for the Lord is on the right track. If things work out well, it's probably in his will and if things are a disaster, it may be a sign we're on the wrong track. That's one of the things I learned reading the Purpose Filled Life.

Just my two cents and I could be wrong.

If we go where the Spirit leads, we're on the right track, I think. So you made some good pints, Angelinboots.

Geo.

I see in the faith the same that I see in society. Just a little difference. In society you can do good for 20 years and not many take notice. Do something wrong and it spreads like wildfire.

Now the believer is the same yet in a oppisite way. When something wrong happens he is quick to Blame Yahweh or wonder why me.

How many notice the Blessings he bestows on you everyday. Do you notice when for no unknown reason you stop or something changes that may of saved your life.

Do you just call that happenstance or a stroke of luck.
We fail to notice what he does for us.

Yahshua said the birds of the air have nests and yet the son of man has no where to lay his head. Was he blaming his father.

Those birds of the air when it warms. Come out at the break of Dawn to sing praises to Yahweh for another day he has given them.

Yahshua gave all praise to Yahweh for giving him friends.look around listen closely and the miracles of life are all around. We are just to caught up with false success to hear or see them.

Blessings..Miles

I have an unshakable faith in God, and when I pray, I am very careful not to make it a wish list lest I get granted the things I ask for. He might just grant all of them

I am glad I haven't gotten all I have prayed for! I have learned I can trust that the Lord know what's best, tho He enjoys hearing from me! "All GOOD things come down from the Father...".

Amen!

In the context of this forum, an agnostic and a secular humanist.

-Kerry O.