nevertheless, what is love?
love is caring for the other person regardless of who or what he/she is.

well, see, invisible, that's the thing. its the PEOPLE. im not tryin to persuade u or anything. u live the life u want to live. BUT....why should God lose out on something that HE created just because some people make us mad, and wont do things for us in the church that we need to spiritually grow? my guess, is that that pastor isnt a very spiritual man if he's not willing to do something that will help someone grow spiritually just because of the crowd they hang out with. I'd want u to hang out with those ppl, and live as a Godly example to win them over too. and as far as him not givin a guy a christmas gift because he didnt make it to service? im sorry, but that's just wrong. if he couldnt make it to service, why didnt the pastor make the effort and go the extra mile to make it to where the guy was? see, my point, is that God shouldn't have to lose out on something that's already His (our lives, us), just because of the things other so called "Christians" do to us. the Bible talks about how the hearts of men shall wax cold in the last days. well, the last days are here and the the love of many, and men's hearts are waxing cold. but we gotta get used to that, stick with God, and you WILL make it thru ANYTHING. a rapper once said in a song: "God never puts anything on us that is more than what we can handle. WE put things on OURSELVES that is more than what we can handle."

Job had some of the worst persecution in certain ways in the Old Testament, but he never gave up on God. look at Christ. God in the flesh. look how His own children treated Him. THEY KILLED HIM! yet He still forgave, and forgives. He CANT give up on God cause that's who He is. but He can easily give up on us. but He wont cause He said He will never leave us nor forsake us. and He can NOT go back on His word.

Hebrews 8:12 - For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

well, see, invisible, that's the thing. its the PEOPLE. im not tryin to persuade u or anything. u live the life u want to live. BUT....why should God lose out on something that HE created just because some people make us mad, and wont do things for us in the church that we need to spiritually grow? my guess, is that that pastor isnt a very spiritual man if he's not willing to do something that will help someone grow spiritually just because of the crowd they hang out with. I'd want u to hang out with those ppl, and live as a Godly example to win them over too. and as far as him not givin a guy a christmas gift because he didnt make it to service? im sorry, but that's just wrong. if he couldnt make it to service, why didnt the pastor make the effort and go the extra mile to make it to where the guy was? see, my point, is that God shouldn't have to lose out on something that's already His (our lives, us), just because of the things other so called "Christians" do to us. the Bible talks about how the hearts of men shall wax cold in the last days. well, the last days are here and the the love of many, and men's hearts are waxing cold. but we gotta get used to that, stick with God, and you WILL make it thru ANYTHING. a rapper once said in a song: "God never puts anything on us that is more than what we can handle. WE put things on OURSELVES that is more than what we can handle."

Job had some of the worst persecution in certain ways in the Old Testament, but he never gave up on God. look at Christ. God in the flesh. look how His own children treated Him. THEY KILLED HIM! yet He still forgave, and forgives. He CANT give up on God cause that's who He is. but He can easily give up on us. but He wont cause He said He will never leave us nor forsake us. and He can NOT go back on His word.

Hebrews 8:12 - For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

There is a big difference between loving somebody despite him/herself or just loving somebody.

I don't know where I will go when I die but I find it difficult to believe that my loved ones are just- *poof* - gone...

Mostly I think something similar to what you believe, invisible, reincarnation. I don't know about the "task" though, I don't think we have specific jobs, although I do feel we may have certain possible choices to make while we're here... and those choices may have wider repercussions...

Definitely no heaven or hell for me though. Especially no hell... people should be good people just for the joy of being a good person and sleeping well at night and feeling good about ones choices... not to earn a reward or avoid a punishment. We are not children after all...

although I like to play...

thank you anoasis,
I kinda knew that you'd like my concept, or belief, or whatever you care to call it. ( sorry for not mentioning you on my list of soul mates ). The task bit is easy to explain for me though. In a small community here there have been suicides of 16 year olds ( 3 within the span of 2 month). I just have to believe that their task was done, otherwise it would tear me apart.

I understand that feeling very well... I do tend to think, "well, I guess they were done here"...

But for me, when my borther died and people tried to tell me that he must have done what he needed to do it made me quite angry... my nephews were 4 and 7 years old... How could he be done?

We all have to make our peace the best we can... because none of us know and that is very difficult for so many...


Don't be sorry, I knew you must be my soul sister... or at least a soul cousin....

anoasis wrote:
We all have to make our peace the best we can... because none of us know and that is very difficult for so many...

and I do think we are very lucky not to know for certain.
Doesn't it leave so many ways open for us?
Isn't it great to choose what you want to believe?
For me, my beliefs are right, and certain, they suit me, they make me go on. Isn't that what beliefs are about?

When I die I’m going back home just like I always do.

I’m going to engage in a great love story the next time around.

I have a few more chapters to read here though. No need to rush.

Here, have some crumpets, these are hot and served with fresh honeycomb.

I also have some lemon balm tea if you like.

James,
I'd like some liquorice tea, and marmalade on my crumpets.

Oh, and, James, isn't that the place we are all going to after my belief system?
Home?

I’ve decided to give up on people who make out god to be an ugly demon. I’m tired of hearing the claims that mankind is inherently evil and that all men are sinners. People who make those claims must feel pretty bad about themselves and have a need to bring everyone else down to their level.

Like you say, when we die we’re all going home. People who want to wallow in negativity can just go ahead and wallow in it as far as I’m concerned. I’ll just feel sorry for them and those around them.

We know that god is nice, and that’s all that really matters.

well according to all you sanctimonious believers i'll be where it's a bit warm all the time.

but i'll be the same place everyone before and after me will be...becoming worm food.......let the ripping begin....

Ouch, Hanged,
that's only your body going to be ate.
You share my spirit, and I shall share yours.

Hi everyone,

You know, I feel like I live on a yo-you. Oned day it's hell and one day it's not. I figure I'm just doin it all once, instead of waiting to be surprised. ha!

Today,though must be on the upswing, cos I came here and ya all in one place. Well a couple missing, but they'll be by, and know I said hey!

For the record, I don't know if something from our being goes on, but if it does, it has its' own agenda and who I am, what I know, and who I know, aren't a part of it. Whatever that thing might be that might go on, is just learning. I'm just trying to teach as much as I can.

love to ya all

Oh Abra, at last I get a scone while they are still hot, and with fresh honey... yummmmmm...

Thanks!!

As you probably knew, I agree with you, "when we die we’re all going home. People who want to wallow in negativity can just go ahead and wallow in it as far as I’m concerned. I’ll just feel sorry for them and those around them.

We know that god is nice, and that’s all that really matters."

How could a mean, petty, judgemental god create so many wondrous and beautiful things? I do not believe it.

I found a nice quote I thought you might enjoy- you may already know it-:

"I believe God is everything...
Everything that is or ever was or ever will be,
And when you can feel that, and be happy to feel that,
you've found it...
One day when I was sitting quiet and feeling like a motherless child,
which I was,
it came to me:
that feeling of being part of everything
not seperate at all,
I knew that if I cut a tree, my arm would bleed.
And I laughed and I cried and I ran around the house.
I knew just what it was.
In fact, when it happens, you can't miss it."

Alice Walker, The Color Purple

I gonna like Alice Walker
I think it's exactly what I'm feeling all the time.
The feeling to come home to..........

That makes sense, Invisible. I love this man who goes to our spiritual meetings who is an athiest. I got right next to him in our group hug. He let me know that he doesn't pray the Lord's prayer but still he is a good hugger. It kind of helped me tonight as I sat in the pew in the back of the church tonight. I went there just because I got lonely which might be the wrong reason for going to church tonight since the sermon was on hypocrites. But what the heck I got to show off one of my new scrub tops. My mom says she can't make Wednesday nights so she makes the Saturday morning service. It is kind of cool because when I walk into the church on Wednesday nights I don't have someone fussing over my hair not being in a crewcut; No nagging about when was the last time I shaved.

How could such a loving god create things like cancer, ebola, aids,luekemia,malaria, need i go on?

Anoasis petty and judgemental just scratch the surface. you forgot vengeful, psychotic and sadistic.


A loving caring god inflicts things like that on someone he loves? yeah right. sounds more like a mad chemist playing in his lab.

he does for the same reason anyone who has succumbed to power. because he can.

that is if he really exsisted outside the human imagination.

I am not negative by the way. just haven't bought into the indoctrination that starts at birth on the fresh unformed minds.

religion and thus god is just one more form of social control, as is any goverment that hands down laws.
this is not neccessarily a bad thing unless abused. which as we all can attest to all forms of government and religions have been and are still.
as for the free will arguement yeah we can make a choice as to what to believe or do or accept. the only thing that makes those choices good or bad is the current social conscience of the population at the time.
religion like laws is easily malleable to fit what a particular society or individual needs or wants.
i am sure that your god has a certain plan as to how his worship was supposed to work, not a change it to fit what you want or believe style. if that were the case why have a bible or torah or koran that lays it out? for ****s and giggles?

because i don't believe i am negative? maybe i am worshipping my god as i see fit. who's to say? you? the local priest or father? quit feeling sorry for those that don't agree with you. after all isn't that why we have free will to make our own decisions. it's a gift from god is it not? do with as we see fit? for good or bad? everyone uses it in their own way. sorry if it doesn't fit your view.

no i am not railing at you just stating my opinion.

after all if we can understanding for those that believe it is thier right and purpose to kill the unbelievers to please allah and recieve their virgins why can't we do the same to those who just don't believe?


ok i am done....

As a christian, i can confidently claim, to all of you non-christians where you are going after death: You AND ME are going nowhere.

No heaven, no hell. They serve no purpose and have no backing in the bible. Challenge me if I sound like a nut.

Its in OUR power, and therefore our responsibility to make "heaven here on earth". Its an easy thing to do. We all just dont do it enough.

Like the Big-J said "the kingdom of heaven IS AT HAND". Its up to us to make it stay.


-Mike