Friends Who Pray for You

JoJo - God bless you sister in Christ! GG Ruthy J

m-mash - You are so right.

Whatever christians need to tell themselves to sleep at night....

American Spirit - Now I've heard everything! Good grief. I will indeed pray for whosoever I please. A spell, you are mistaken, but welcome to believe whatever...!

Sorry, American, as much as I agree with most of what you write, I believe prayer would actually have to be EFFECTIVE in any way whatsoever before it becomes a problem when people do it for me, with or without my permission. People are free to talk to themselves all they want about me.

I will indeed pray for whosoever I please.

In other words, I will disrespect the desires of other folk if it suits me. Rapist!!!

Prayer is not a curse or spell. If you are truly not a believer in the one true God, then the prayers that people pray for you should not affect you.

I guess I am simply not understanding your comment. How, may I ask, will one's praying for someone be a bad thing for the prayer's soul?

You will possibly never know who or how many are actively praying for you. So, how can you be offended by what you truly do not know?

There are people in my life that do not know I pray for them. As I pray for them, their lives may not be changed, but my heart for them is changed. The prayers that are prayed are not just for the one being prayed for---

Please don't be angry at someone who believes differently than you do. And because of the differences in belief, them praying for you truly should not affect you---unless of course you are tempted to opening your heart and letting Jesus in---only you have control over your heart. No one else.

I'm a non-believer. If someone needs something, I HELP. Pray or roll up your sleeves and lend a hand. Which would you prefer your friends do?

You're right. Actually DOING something, and not praying, will be of help. I think prayer is merely a way to make people think they're helping without actually doing anything.

Excuse us, but that is exactly what we do. We don't just sit with our hands together, we help, so don't pat yourself to hard on the back there!

If you say so. But starving children need food, not bibles.

We feed and cloth the needy, we send money to missions that help those get food, we help pay light bills and so on.

Through catastrophes the world over, Christians have been there asap to help feed, clothe and nurture the needy. Christians provide food banks in communities across America. We pray for God's guidance and follow His direction. Please join in some of our activities, help us help others. Then you'll see the truth about Christians who put others before self. GG Ruthy J

The "help" and "charity" exist, but they are conditional. The time is spent trying to brainwash the needy into superstitious rationale and encouraging the spread of AIDS by spreading incorrect information on safe sex (such as catholics in Africa). And truth be told, with all the problems religion is responsible for, I don't see that the good deeds just negate the bad ones.

Wow. But it's so true. Religion can really warp how you see the world.

Thankfully, he's in jail. But at the same time, they will always see people with similar beliefs as "good" and everyone else as "other". They will continue to support this man. And they don't care about you. It's sickening and I'm sorry you went through that

I came to the same conclusion when the entire defendant side of the courtroom looked like a church meeting, and our side was us and a few good friends at the sentencing. I'll take the few good friends anyday.

Chloe947414,

Praise God, we do have power in prayer, His power, anything is possible with God. And through our prayer and our faith, he can heal.

Thank you for this wonderful story, and prayers are that she will not have to have anymore surgery. Prayes that she is healed for good.

Our God is a wonderful God!

Thank you Jojo50.

I do pray everyday that God will simply fix her heart---but I also don't want to prevent him from doing all his good work thru us---or put him in a box.

So, my prayers are for healing, fixing and his will not mine.

Our God is a great and wonderful loving and faithful God--and without him I am lost.

Amen!

When I see my mom suffer with pain, she tells me God gives her nothing that she cannot handle. And she said that without God, she wouldnot be able to deal with it. She said that through her pain she finds comfort. Her faith is very strong!

JoJo - A friend of mine who is crippled with Fibromyalgia, was once asked "why you?" He replied..."Why not?"

I'm still amazed at his acceptance of what is his reality. He is full of faith in God regardless! He knows that God is in charge and he leaves everything up to God's will, (for he knows there is a reason for everything.) "Faith, trust, and obey, for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus..." AMEN!

Hello Hope!

Good to see you here. As usual those who don't believe, come in and try there best to degrade us, but through the power of the Lord, we don't fall, we are not "ASHAMED" to testify that He is our Lord and Savior, and they cannot take what we believe in away. No one can. They can try to outlaw us from praising andbelieving in Him, that won't stop us.

Bless you Hope!

God bless you too, Jojo, my friend!

We know that we know Him, because He has given us hearts to know Him and love Him. But we love Him because He first loved us.

We don't need to worry about those who come in to sting with their remarks. I wish they didn't come in that way, but at least they're here! God's love is contagious! We keep our fellowship, and they can watch!

I thank God for you and all those who are family in the Lord!

Good Night, everyone!:)

re: #8.2 - Hope - God Bless you too, Hope. We stand in the presence of our Lord God Almighty, and give each other hope through our love of Him. The fields are white with harvest. To those who do not yet believe in God, now is the time for repentance and forgiveness. It's not yet too late. Call on the living God. Pray as your heart dictates. GG

My only regret is that the day you die and it turns out there is NOTHING after this life, I won't be able to say "I told you so."

This is no god. There is no eternal life. THIS IS IT . .and once it's over you are worm food and a hundred years from now no one will remember you.

BUT...we believe in God, so if we die and there is no Heaven and Hell,, OK...But if we die and there is a Heaven and Hell

...you lose EVERYTHING!

and I believe there is a God, a heaven and an hell!

LOL . . . keep telling yourself that. . .

There's two ways to look at this, IF god exists. One, grace. The unbeliever who has not been given a real opportunity to believe is, according to Paul, covered by grace. I think a person who tried to believe but was beaten, raped, and had her child kidnapped by believers would fall in the category. Throughout my longing for god, he never gave me the tiniest ray of hope and, in fact, if he exists, loaded with burden upon burden until I finally cried out in agony and abandoned my belief in him (after getting lithium, you should try it.). That was in 1992, when just newly not homeless, bleeding emotionally and spiritually from the kidnapping of my youngest child by her father, aided by Christians who then tried to put me in a place where they could get the others. I cried out to god for succor . . for relief for the mentally agony I was enduring. And when there was no aid, I gave up on god. . Do you believe IF you god exists he would believe he did all he could for a child he loved to keep her following him? (And, btw, my life changed that night and I went from homeless to a beautiful home in the mountains in less than a year.)

Two, we are justified by works, also covered by Paul. My works beat yours, I promise you. I do good because it makes me happy to make people happy. I do right because it is my nature to do right. If I ever were to come up before a god, my "soul" is beautiful and generous and giving. I am without shame or regret (well, except that I didn't go and spend a week with a rock band in Canada to drink coffee, smoke pot, sing and have sex . . but that's another story.). I actually UNDERSTAND what Paul taught . .and it is NOT what you think it was. How does that compare with you folks who live your lives out of fear and shame? How beautiful do you think your soul is with it's pettiness and hatred and self loathing and the secret erection you get when you think about someone like me being tortured forever . .burned in agony . .for eternity because I'm not as good as you?

On my death bed I will be content. I will know I have done the best I could under horrifying circumstances and wrenched happiness from the face of mental illness, genetic flaws and a life of terrible circumstances. I will die surrounded by people who love me. How will you die? I can guarantee you will take your doubt to your grave . . .fearing the wrath of the capricious god you worship.

You DO not know me or my works and how I feel.

We are not saved through WORKS. We are saved through the Son of God, Jesus Christ!

You my friend , have had that opportunity to come to know the Savior, it is your choice. And about those who you mentioned above, if the Love of the lord is in them, they will get through. And my friend, I know believers that have gone through some of the things you said, an they believe even stronger.

You see the Love of God ,no man can take from us.

Ephesians 2:8-9....For by grace we are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God;

NOT of works, lest any man should boast.

So the work that I do is through the love that God has placed in me.

I do know you and your works. Over half a century of dealing with people like you tells me everything I need to know. As for the works thing, how about you go back and read the NT? Hmmm. You obviously don't understand the doctrine of the most influential writer of the New Testament.

You my friend , have had that opportunity to come to know the Savior, it is your choice.

I am not your friend. And how do you KNOW I had an opportunity to "come to know the Savior"? (Assuming for one red second he existed.) If by "come to know" you mean be raped, beaten and humiliated . . .and then be called a liar by my clergy when I told him I was being raped, beaten and humiliated and threatened with hell if I ever told anyone else. If you mean the systematic exploitation by various "Christian" groups, up to and including them aiding and abetting the kidnapping of my daughter and attempts to take my other children away from me.

What kind of god delivers his message of truth from the lips of unclean, woman hating baby rapers? What kind of god allows his shepherds to exploit and harm his sheep/children? What kind of god creates a Universe where he KNOWS his creations are flawed and will anger him and cause him to condemn them to eternal torment and makes the ONLY solution, the only path to escape that torment for being EXACTLY what he made them to give physical form to his being and murder it in one of the most horrible ways imaginable? WHY? For the love of all that is Holy, why did the greatest force that ever existed choose to create this world of suffering and hatred and give no succor to the ones who try to love him?

There is no Savior. It's a carrot held on a stick by men who want your money . . who want power over you . .who want to tell you what you can do with your body and put limits on your joy while they are violating every rule they make for you. Come to the Light, Jojo. Come breath the free air of REAL freewill . . .see what it's like to allow yourself to make your own decisions and spend your life the way you see fit.

So the work that I do is through the love that God has placed in me.

You will still lie on your death bed doubting . . afraid you didn't do enough. That is the real sadness about your belief system . .there's always a chance you picked the wrong doctrine, listened to the wrong person . . .believed the wrong thing. What if the Mormons were right? The Jehovah Witnesses. David Koresh? The Jews? The Muslims? What if your sadistic god is having a good laugh right now because you missed the clue that told you true path . . .because who other than a sadistic bastard would hide the truth in the words of pedophiles and murders? You will die with fear in your heart. And I will die laughing of joy from a life spent as joyously as I could spend it, content in my accomplishments and the love of my family.

Gwenny,

I know you just from your words.....you are full of hate!

And all I can say is ANY one who does these horrible things are NOT Gods people. But once again you know not me, nor my heart. And I DO read the NT! You are the one that does not understand it!

You need to let go of your "HATE" I HAVE come to the real LIGHT, Gweeny! You are the one that is in the dark!

Jojo,

re: hell. Would your loving god really condemn anyone to eternal suffering? Is that really a loving god? The punishment seems a little harsh. Perhaps you can help me understand why a loving, caring god would do that.

Jojo, hate blinds people, it makes them numb, and lashes out with poison. That's what I see in Gwenny's posts. No matter what happens to one's life, there is no excuse for hate and rebellion toward God. But here is the truth that every person needs to realize: If God did never anything for us, wretched fallen human beings, if he allowed us to rot in our own misery, but only provided a way to come to Him through His Son Jesus Christ, to save our souls from penalty of sin, it would be enough, and much more then enough. This present life is like a tiny drop in an ocean, few earthly years we're here, and then comes eternity. Eternity is forever, no end, everlasting...... We live in world that's cursed by sin, and prince of the power of the air is ruling on this earth, making people into animals, taking their humanity away, making them captive to himself. We see so much suffering and pain in this world because of sin. But Jesus went through suffering and pain, as no other human being knew, not just physically but spiritually, which no man could see , because all sin of whole mankind was poured upon Him. And He did this for us , so we could be saved from punishment of sin. But those people like Gwen they will go to their eternity, blaming God for their suffering. It's not God who afflicted her, but sinful men, corrupted humans. But bitterness and hate have blinded her heart. What is it worth to hold on to it? All things will pass away but those who believe on His name, and trust in Him will have their hopes and dreams fulfilled, and every tear will be wiped from their eyes. They will see the end of the wicked, and every tear that was shed and pain inflicted on them will be avenged. But those who out of bitterness blame Him, blaspheme His Name, will have eternity spent with very those who caused them pain, and were judged for it.
But no, no one will change the truth, because TRUTH is self sustaining, a it does not matter if only few believe it , while whole world is mocking, laughing and denying it. God is true, and every man that opposes himself is a liar. That's His verdict, not ours, and we only speak His word. He is our strong rock, and the wind blows, and te waves come against it, but we are not affected, because He is our foundation, that will never be shaken. But as long as there is a breath in those who opose themself, there is still hope, and that's why we pray for them.

hope,

I'll ask you the same question as above. Would a loving god really condemn people to eternal suffering? If so, why? And in doing so, wouldn't he cease to be a loving god?

Think on this. Did Judas die lost? Jesus said to him when he came that night to betray him in the garden "Friend". We are friends of God if so be that we know him. Now there is a difference of knowing him and too know him. Many know of him but they do not have a relationship with him. So will a loving God punish his creation? Revelation 21:8 says, But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death". You might be saying to yourself that this is not me, well if you have not the Spirit of Christ you are not his. Romans 8:.

God does not wish any should perish but come unto repentance. What Jesus said here is My coming was to save not destroy. He gives us time on this earth and ears to hear this Glorious Gospel of good news and what you choose to do with it is between you and God and nobody else. We have a time span of about 72 years here. Any more are a blessing and that comes when Children obey their parents so that their days my be long on this earth. So. Will God a Loving God send his creation to Hell, Read the Bible and them you can answer your own question.

Have a good day and may the God we serve Jesus, Bless and keep you.

Thanks for the non-answer. No wonder people get turned off by Christianity! God loves everyone, but oh wait, actually he doesn't.

That's great.

Have a good day and may Flying Spaghetti Monster bless and keep you. The FSM forgives, unlike this angry god you speak of.

Brian,

Our God is a loving God! You and others just will not let Him into your heart. If you did you would find out "what Love He has for you". But even though you speak and mock Him...He still loves you!

If he would send me to hell for eternity, then he is not a loving god.

No Brian, if He sent you to hell for eternity, that wouldbe because that was the path you chose! Not His. He wants you on the right path.

We all come to the crossroads, it is up to us to choose the way.

Brian, please don't take this the wrong way, but our heart breaks when we read posts that mocks the Lord. Some believers can be very harsh to some, but others just pray that you will choose the right path. I say that with a caring heart. I to at one time felt the way you do.

So god isn't forgiving? He wouldn't forgive me but instead would send me to hell? How does that make sense?

God is forgiving, if you ask and let Him into your heart, Brian. Only you can send yourself there, You are the one that has that choice.

God gave you a free will to choose.

Brian,

If you understood the holiness of God, and if you understood the depth of the sacrifice of God, and what went on the Cross when Christ Jesus gave His life and shed His blood for us, fallen human race, and if you understood the depth of love that caused Him to say"I will go"... then you would know why it is justice to send all those who refuse His gift of redemption, to a place called Hell.

There is only two ways that God will deal with men on that day when they stand before Him: mercy and justice .To those who come to God in His Son Jesus, covered by His righteousness, He will see His Son Jesus, and will not count their sins against them. But those who will stand before Him without His Son Jesus Christ,not being clothed in His righteousness, they will be judged by a Holy God, to satisfy His justice. God has set the standard, He has given us the way, He has provided it for us. It is more then any human being could ever immagine!

Brian, the depth of mercy, of love and of forgiveness of God is without measure to those who accept it. You take those three words (mercy,love and forgiveness)and write the opposites of them, and complete the sentence as in bold letters....That is what those who did not accept Christ's atonement will experience without Him .

But human beings were not meant to go to such place as Hell. But if they will not come to Him and accept the sacrifice He provided for their sins, there'll be no place found for them in God's presence. Do you think this is not justice? Even in natural circumstances one would see the meaning of what I wrote here, but it is man's pride and self will, and desire to be independent from God that makes him not to want to see and acknowledge those things. Those with humble hearts, who see their need for God's righteousness will see and acknowledge, but those who are proud and wise in their own eyes will not. It is always according to one's heart, so here it is also according to your heart, whether you'll understand it or not. That's all I have to say.

So, let me get this straight. I don't believe in god so when I die I will go before god and he will say, "Since you didn't believe in me during your short life, you will go to hell." And then I will say, "But I believe in you now and I ask for your mercy!" And then god will say, "Nope, you made your choice during life." And then I will descend into hell for eternity. Doesn't sound very forgiving to me.

Brian,

We have choices to make here in this life. God is a very forgiving God, but He will know who is His, and when our time here is finished, the path we choose will be the path that we will spend eternity.

And Brian, I thought and felt the same way you do. I even left my husband over religion or I should say his Faith. But now I know how he felt and what he believed in. And I thought that he would not forgive me , but I am forgiven and He gave me that assurance.

I was you for many years of my life.

Wow! You left your husband over religion! I'm done talking to you then. That is one of the most intolerant things I've ever heard!

And you still won't answer my question. From what I gather from this conversation, you don't really know anything about your god. He is forgiving in this life, but not in the next? Jealousy is a human characteristic that wouldn't be present in an all powerful deity with infinite knowledge. I know Christians that think that all will be forgiven and I think their brand of Christianity is much more appealing than yours.

You can pray for me if you like, but it truly is a waste of your time. Besides, anyone who would leave their husband for religious reasons is a selfish, bigoted, angry, intolerant and vile person and I don't want them having anything to do with me even if it's a harmless prayer. If anything, your god will send you to hell for being so intolerant.

Brian,

when I left my husband, it was before I became a Christian! Not after. I did not understand what he was doing. I did not want to know the God that he loved. But I do now. So judge me if you like, And all that you called me in your above post was true. That is exactly what I was like before God came into my life!!!! But because Jesus forgives and I let GO of all of that, I am a new person. Take it as you like, BUT that is what being born again is....WE CHANGE!!! We are forgiven of our past!

But until someone lets Jesus into their hearts, they won't understand this! The old person in me died! The new has been born, in Christ Jesus!

I was at one time filled with HATE like many here! The hate is gone also.

WE CHANGE!!! We are forgiven of our past!

But not by god according to you. If I die and still don't believe I will go before him and ask for forgiveness but he will not show mercy and will cast me down into hell, right?

That is right Brian! It is your choice rather to believe or not! It is in your hands what to choose. I know that back before I was born again..If something happened to me, there was no hope for me.

Brian, I will assume this is a sincere question, but if you really looked in the articles above, this question you have was already answered. Never the less I will try to explain one more time: God has put in every human heart an awareness of Himself, and given to every human being understanding, that no man can in his heart of hearts deny that God exists. God is a holy God , and He does not have an obligation to prove His existence to bratty human beings who demand it. He says that He is nigh(close) to those of humble and contrite heart, but the proud He knows from afar. Everything that human beings need to find Him , He has already given: a conscience that has His laws written in in them, so they know the right from wrong, a mind that understands that those laws written in them did not just so happen, and understanding that there is more to our human existence then our earthy life. And creation, everything that exists, every thing: from the smallest little ants crawling on the ground, and the wonder of their complexity... a humming bird, and other birds, which are flying thousand of miles away to winter over, and then coming to the same nest, next spring...the miracles, the laws of nature, the order of planets, and mystery of laws of universe..... all this, and multitudes of things that leaves even the most seasoned scientists speechless....if all this is not a witness of God, then if someone came back from the dead to convince you, you would not believe.

The reason so many do not see and know what I just described is because they have allowed things that are destructive to their souls to come in and to rob them , to numb this awareness of their Maker.

We're living in times that are anything but ordinary. Never before were people's intellects insulted with such vain things as in this times and age. Man has become so wise in his own eyes, that he practically pushed out anything that God has put in him it to testify of Himself.... But it was written long ago about times such as these, and we are seeing it now, before our own very eyes. But to those, who with humble and longing hearts come and ask of Him, recognizing their own poverty without Him, and their need for Him...to those He will reveal Himself, and give a new life to them, not only now, but in the life to come, when He does away with the world that's cursed by sin and corruption, and he makes all things new.

To those who are wise in their own eyes, and therefore have allowed their hearts to become numb, this is a silly fairytale, and they make a sport of making jokes of us who believe God and His Word. But we believe because He has shown it to us, and we know that it is true!! That's why no man can shake our convictions, that's why the faith in Christ has lasted through ages and people were martyred for their faith, rather then deny it. Is this something those who don't know what they're dying for would do? I think NOT!

In many places in Holy Scriptures God pleads with mankind to seek Him, to come to Him, and not to live as beasts of the field, and like fools in this world. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all may be saved, that's His word! But He will reveal Himself to those, who come to Him with a humble and seeking heart, willing to acknowledge their need and His greatness. Remember, Brian, we do not live normal ties...Our American lifestyle and liberties that were meant to give us true freedom, were taken by our human nature, and have warped even the meaning of the word"freedom". God does not have no regards nor respect for our sense of " individualism" and "independent spirit", as we know it in this country today, the way it has elevated man to become his own god. He is the Lord God Almighty, He is the author of freedom, in full sense of the meaning of it, and if he doesn't give it, and it does not originate of Him, then it 's not freedom, it's not real, and only leads to bondage and misery, which is so evident all around us.

I have written this to you, Brian, and there is no need to write anything else. There are answers for you in His Word, if you really want them. Just to give suggestion: Book of John, Book of Romans, Book of Proverbs, for the start. And if you have a heart that's seeking Him, there is no way he'll turn you away. But for the reasons described above, and many more written in the Scriptures, there will no one stand before God with an excuse, and yes, if they did not want to believe in Him now, they will go to place called Hell.

Good day to you friend, I hope that you'll see the truth in what I wrote to youin this post.

Jojo and Hope,

Thank you for having this conversation with me. It has really helped to push me further away from Christianity. I wish both of you well.

Brian, no, what we wrote in our posts to you did not push you away from God, you have pushed yourself, because of what is in your own heart.

It is written in the Scriptures:

"He who believes in Him (Son of God) is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God..... And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil... For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God" Gospel of John3:18-21

In every one of these posts written here, you have received much light of truth, and you were not treated unkindly by anyone. You will not have an excuse before God.

But I, and all of us here also, were glad to talk to you, and wish all the best for you...

Have a good day, Brian!

I will have a great day hope51! You do the same. I will never be a part of a religion that punishes anyone for eternity, which is why I was asking if god is forgiving. A god that has no capacity for mercy is not worthy of my or anyone's worship.

Brian, you have had many chance's to come to God. He does have mercy for us, but if you keep on refusing to believe in Him , let me ask you this, why do you think you should have mercy from Him? You are the one that is turning him away, He is not turning you away. His arms are open and waiting!!! Yours are not.

I pray for You Gwenny

Thanks. At least spiritual rape hurts less than physical rape.

Let me return the favor. I'll think of you while I'm lying in passionate play with my boyfriend this weekend, hoping you get laid well and truly by an unbeliever who rips you away from your religion and lets you see the pure, clean light of real Truth. Every time a thrill runs through my body from his touch, I'll send a thought to the "Universe" that your eyes be opened and your body freed.

And I'm out of here, silly believers.

Gwenny, I feel truly sorry for you. What have you allowed yourself to become!??

Feeling sorry for someone is not what God had in mind. What we are to do is pray and let Jesus deal with that person. I know what it is like to make fun and poke fun at Christians I too did the same. I thought they were far from reality until I found myself facing a grave decision in my life. I found that only, and I repeat only Jesus had the answer and He came through for me and I know that he will come through for Gwenny. I hope that she will find having a one time thrill is only a seasonal thing. But eternity is forever. Love is not in sexual favors, but in a truly respected relationship with one another until marriage. Say what you will but your life will be emptied and void when he or she decides they are not right for each other. Been there and seen it.

Take thought for your actions and realize that it is not only you that will be hurt but others like maybe a baby you did not plan for, or a disease you did not expect to get, or maybe just a death sentence has come. Realize one thing that the one we put most of our trust in here on earth will let us down. We will not always agree. But the one who will not let you down knows you better then you know yourself and He is waiting for you to call on his name.

Before you come off thinking that this is bogus read the Gospels and you then decide to write your response.

Again I say to all Have a good Blessed Day in God.

Just one of the many disappointing aspects of many Christians. The need for a comforting belief in eternal life at the expense of all other evidence.

The sadness actually works in the opposite direction. A person that demands proof and reason in all other aspects of life but suspends them for religion and comforting myths.

You just assume that all have answers to all question and Spiritual insight.

Ha! I claimed nothing of the sort. I simply asked if god is forgiving. The answer I got is that he is forgiving only in this life. Basically, if I don't accept him now, then I will spend eternity in hell.

God sounds like a total jerk. A person with the types of qualities that you describe would be shunned by society. Jesus never acted like that.

american for truth,

Thank you for what you wrote! I sometimes do not have all the answers, but if I can tell what I feel now and back when Christ was not in my life, maybe that would help. But I have found that it not always helps. But I will say this..I had a praying momma, that prayed that we would let the Lord Jesus into our lives. She now says one out of three was answered. Now my little sister is asking questions. Now she has two praying for her. Myself and momma!

God bless you to!

Brian. Again I will say, Jesus did not tolerate sin. He came to forgive sin. He said that you cannot enter into heaven with it in your life. So if you want to place a trust in a false god then I say go right ahead. But I will warn you of a truth, The Rich man lifted up his eyes in hell, while Lazarus was comforted. So. Brian you chose and again it does not matter what some one says you will not agree. You haven't even had time to read any of my facts before you jumped the gun and refuted the answer. So Blessing is in one hand and a curse is in the other, the choice is yours?

You haven't even had time to read any of my facts

There aren't any facts in your posts. Only Bible quotes. Those aren't facts.

What do you think they are? Do you think that facts come from only man made sources and books? If this is true then man or I shall say Holy Men of old wrote the BIBLE. Will you also guide me to those books you believe in. Also while you are looking explain the Dates and Times, and Places in history that existed before man found in Gods word. Now proof is that I have been where youare and I know what God did and one irrefutable fact is My experience you cannot deny. Now You have not seen me nor I you. We do not know each other except by this posting. We are reading what each other is writing but yet nothing has changed in my life except by Gods Grace.

So If the Bible offends you and you feel that they are not facts, then where do you base any of your responses from?

This comment demands an extended response. Be patient and I'll have one in a few hours.

I will be waiting. Take your time we have until eternity. God bless you.

I've been really busy so here is the short version:

What do you think they are?

A collection of stories and myths.

Do you think that facts come from only man made sources and books?

This question doesn't really make sense. Facts are things that actually happen or can or were observed to happen. Again, I'm not really sure what you mean with this question.

If this is true then man or I shall say Holy Men of old wrote the BIBLE.

How do you know these men were holy men? Do you know because they claimed they were in their writings? That type of claim is highly suspect because no one can confirm it.

Will you also guide me to those books you believe in.

I don't subscribe to any religious texts. I only believe in facts that can be proven through verifiable accounts or experimentation. See: Science.

Also while you are looking explain the Dates and Times, and Places in history that existed before man found in Gods word.

What are you talking about here?

Now proof is that I have been where you are and I know what God did and one irrefutable fact is My experience you cannot deny. Now You have not seen me nor I you. We do not know each other except by this posting. We are reading what each other is writing but yet nothing has changed in my life except by Gods Grace.

You are correct here. I cannot confirm nor deny an experience that you had. However, I will say that subjective accounts of experiences do not constitute evidence. What I mean by that is a religious experience that you had does not confirm anything about god.

So If the Bible offends you and you feel that they are not facts,

When did I say that I was offended by the Bible? It is a great book as far as philosophy is concerned and does contain some important information about the history of that region at that time.

then where do you base any of your responses from?

What do you mean by this?

Now for some of my questions: Why do you think the Bible is the word of god? Why is it any more valid than any other religious text such as the Qur’an or the Book of Mormon? Why do you choose to be a Christian when there are so many other faiths out there?

Do you think that facts come from only man made sources and books?

This question doesn't really make sense. Facts are things that actually happen or can or were observed to happen. Again, I'm not really sure what you mean with this question.

Well let me try to with your permission answer this. You say facts are things that actually happen. There is proof that a great flood did occur and that there have been sightings of a large object up in the Mountain region of Turkey. So I guess this is fiction and a myth to you. Next there are cities being unearthed even as we speak here. One is the old city of Jordan. Another one is the Old Babylon Empire. Next.

If this is true then man or I shall say Holy Men of old wrote the BIBLE.

How do you know these men were holy men? Do you know because they claimed they were in their writings? That type of claim is highly suspect because no one can confirm it.

No. I can not confirm it because I was not born in that era. But the same is for today. How do you know that your Father and Mother are really yours? Can you confirm that. Not being foolish here this is how your response sounded like that's all. Next.

What are you talking about here?

Now proof is that I have been where you are and I know what God did and one irrefutable fact is My experience you cannot deny. Now You have not seen me nor I you. We do not know each other except by this posting. We are reading what each other is writing but yet nothing has changed in my life except by Gods Grace.

What I was trying to relate was that I did not have time nor did I believe in God. I made my own choices and lived my own live and found fault with anyone trying to convert me.

Now for some of my questions: Why do you think the Bible is the word of god? Why is it any more valid than any other religious text such as the Qur’an or the Book of Mormon? Why do you choose to be a Christian when there are so many other faiths out there?

My reason for the Bible being the word of God is I have tested the waters of it for the past 35 years. I haven't found any other book that can relate to me the love of God with such compassion and truth that would cause me to wonder if there might be another book out there. The testing I have done will in no wise convince anyone that it is truth but again no one can deny my experience. One must experience it for themselves.

Why is it more valid then other books written. Well from the Torah which is the Books of the Jewish faith came all other writings. Second the Qur'an is from that in it's own form. The Arab people are the half brothers to Israel. Israel is the promise child and the others well you figure. I have a Qur'an and I have scanned through it and I do find hatred written through it. Mohammad was born and he died. He was born around 530AD and lived a few short years. What book was the Oldest written then, The Torah, the Jewish writings. Now the Mormons. I also have their book The Book of Mormons. I have scanned through it and have found contradictive statements also. Also the Doctrine of the Coveants written by Joseph Smith and Bringham Young have views that are very controversial. One is that a Black man has no soul. Two, If I think that you will be lost because you like to sin I can kill you to save you.

So. What book do you like to receive your knowledge from? No matter where you receive your facts they can first by found in the Bible and proven with History and science.

There is proof that a great flood did occur

There is no such proof. Link a scientifically verifiable and peer-reviewed study that says there was a worldwide flood. All the evidence out there suggests that the flood in the Bible was a local event.

object up in the Mountain region of Turkey

Again, there is no proof or even suggestion that it is the arc or that it is even a ship.

Next there are cities being unearthed even as we speak here. One is the old city of Jordan. Another one is the Old Babylon Empire.

The existance of these cities proves nothing about god.

How do you know that your Father and Mother are really yours? Can you confirm that.

Yes, I can. It was documented by a number of verifiable sources including hospital records, birth certificate, and all of the people who witnessed the birth.

Not being foolish here this is how your response sounded like that's all.

Not to be a jerk, but your arguments have more holes in them than a Swiss cheese.

My reason for the Bible being the word of God is I have tested the waters of it for the past 35 years. I haven't found any other book that can relate to me the love of God with such compassion and truth that would cause me to wonder if there might be another book out there. The testing I have done will in no wise convince anyone that it is truth but again no one can deny my experience. One must experience it for themselves.

So you have nothing other than subjective, untestable reasoning to believe in the Bible? Very weak argument.

So. What book do you like to receive your knowledge from?

I don't subscribe to a religious document like I said before so I don't take all my knowledge from one book. If you must have an answer I'd have to say science and history books that contain facts.

No matter where you receive your facts they can first by found in the Bible and proven with History and science.

That is utterly false and to make such a claim makes me question your understanding of history and science. The Bible is not a science book. It is not a history book although it does contain a few historical facts (very few). It is a collection of stories and myths about a fictitious deity. There just isn't any evidence that god exists.

Show me some evidence and I'll believe in your god.

The history channel has been at it for what? A few years? Not to mention the fact that I don't think anyone should be trying to disprove god. It's not possible to prove a negative. I would also point out that it is impossible to prove that there is a god. So we are still left with no proof either way that isn't subjective. More accurately, we are left with no evidence that there is a god.

Do you honestly think I give a @!$%# about what the history channel says? Its program quality has lowered significantly in the past few years.

JoJo50: I will say that dealing with some of these question they are non existing. The truth of any matter is not to judge it until you search it for validity and then with science, and then with facts. For the History Channel as you have mentioned is very informative but to some it may be over their heads. Thinking is not a trait for them. They follow masses and are not able to stand for anything.

I know whom I serve and that is one thing no one can deny or take away. I know from where I came and the lowest I have been. I know the God that delivered me from sin and kept me from drugs and allowed me to find him with peace. Yes I joined the USMC in the year that was the worst. I wanted to go and fight and death was far from me. But God had other plans for my life and since then I have not looked back to this world for answers, except to prove that God did and does exist.

We will all die one day and then that will be all the proof I need. If he does not exist I will say Oh Well. But if he does then I will be better off. I enjoy living my life this way. I find Him to be my best friend and he will never leave me nor forsake me. All I can say is, Until you try God and find out first hand we should watch what we say about someone we do not have a relationship with.

So JoJo, Again I say Have a blessed day in God.

That is really the way I look at it. God changing my life is my proof. And i often say that if I die and there is no God, I just die. But if we die and there is a God , where will we be ?

I choose God's path!

Oh, Joyce, this is such profound statement. If people would just stop and think! The years of our lives are like a drop in a mighty ocean compared to eternity!

Have a blessed day, friend, and you too A. F.T.... :)

Keep fighting the good fight of FAITH. Jesus will reward you accordingly. He will poor us out a blessing that we will not be able to handle. For our God is merciful and Great to all.

For our God is merciful and Great to all.

Not quite all...

Yes Brian he loves you also. He reaches for all of us and that includes you. You are made in his image.

I'm going to hell according to you guys so no, he doesn't love me. God is an idiot and a jerk from what you all have described of him.

Brian, go back up and read my post 8.31.

It my open your eyes up. He is calling you, He has found you, it is your choice.

Remember , back years ago, I to was like you. The only thing was, i believed there was a heaven and hell, and I feared the Lord. But that did not stop me from mocking Him.

But now my hard and cold heart is now warm, warm with the Love that He has for me. That love is the same for you. But you won't be able to feel it till you turn to Him.

Brian my life has turned around so much. Don't get me wrong, we all still go through trials and problems, but i handle them different. I look to Him , and His word does guide us through. Brian i cannot tell you everything, but a little over a year ago, my husband had an heart attack, and has been in the hospital 4 times since. We have just about lost everything, but through prayers and His guidence, and believing that He is there with me all the way, gets me through the tough days and God knows there have been many. He does not leave us!

Jojo,

I'm sorry about your husband and I hope that everything works out for you.

I don't think that your god has ever helped you or your husband with anything because god doesn't exist. You have helped yourself and you alone. You may have had help from friends and family but ultimately it was you that pulled yourself out of any hard times you may have been in. You aren't giving yourself enough credit. Why do you need this crutch you call god to lean on when you are strong enough on your own?

Brian,

I know that you feel that way, but you know, even my husband gets His comfort from God!

No if it was not for God I would have gone crazy by now.

Brian,I don't know you personally, but I feel you are a good person. And I pray that one day you to will feel his presence.

God is not a crutch to me, God is my life. I give myself credit, that I am able to help my husband, take care of my little one, and now I am taking care of my dear mother at 80 years old. She has been with me for a month now. And I have kneeled beside her chair at night and prayed that her pain will not be as bad the next day. We go one day at a time. She also believes in God, and tells me all the time that God does not give her anything she can 't handle, and that God has been good to her.

Brian, I do consider you a friend, and i guess it is in my heart to just tell you a few things about my life. I get my strenght from God.

And i wish you the best in Med school, and in cardiology. You will help a lot of people.

I can respect that Jojo. Thank you for wishing me luck. I will try my hardest and hopefully will save lives in the future. (I took that part out of my original post because I sometimes face criticism over it.)

I also consider you a friend. You have never wronged me so I have no ill will toward you. We just have very different views on religion.

Cheers!

can we change the word religion to Faith? You see I believe religion is man made. My faith is MY own personal walk with God!

Faith is a personnel walk with God. Though we have not seen Him in the flesh we do know He is there all the time. How can this be? He said I will never leave you nor forsake you. Job has a good example of God. For during all his mishaps he didn't recognize God until he forgave those around him and then God blessed him with more then he had before. So yes Faith is a personnel walk with God. Hebrews 11:1 Faith is a substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Hold on to and walk in the faith you have in God and we will all see Him one day.

To Brian. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that who- soever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life" John 3:16 Never feel that he is far away. He is as close as the mentioning of His name. Brian I too have been where you are and I thought I was right in everything I did but how wrong I was. Just keep reading the Bible and praying and He will answer your request.

Again to all have a Blessed day.