Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You are being illogical -- or you don't understand what faith is. It is "a firm belief in something for which there is no proof." It is a fact that some people have faith. It has nothing to do with WHICH religion they believe. So, uh, it's somehow similar to thinking people of other ethnicities are inferior -- where in the world do you get that? Totally unrelated.

Yes, it is a fact that some people have faith. That doesn't mean that what they have faith in is factual because that have faith in it. Are we on the same page now?

Again -- you don't understand faith! It is NOT FACTUAL. If it were factual, IT WOULD NOT BE FAITH!! Faith does not prove the existence of God -- it just makes God's existence feel real to those who have faith.

Why do so many people believe in something there is no proof of?

because it's comforting. Because so many others seem to believe it. Because it's the most socially acceptable stance (at least up to now). Because most people were taught to believe, as children, by the people they love and respect and depend on the most. Because people are afraid of the consequences if they don't believe.

That does not apply to me. I believe because I have had personal experience with God, study His Word and have developed a personal relationship with Him. I do not believe God because I am afraid of Hell, I actually do not believe in Hell as traditional Christianity has taught -- I don't think it is a physical place. I think it is a state of being that is totally without God. Plus, I do not believe in what other people have said or did in God's name, I decided to have my OWN relationship. I could say a lot of things about you, but until I have a personal relationship with you, then I don't truly know you.

Saying you study his Word, capital W, implies in the Bible, right? but it sounds like you've decided on your own beliefs, right? and your personal relationship with me, if you had one would be with a flesh-and-blood person, expressing my own thoughts and opinions, in my own way -- not like your relationship with God, which you seem to have interpreted in your own way.

I disagree. I feel like it is not my interpretation, but my understanding. But as far as flesh and blood relationships, different people can have very different relationships with the same person.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You are being illogical -- or you don't understand what faith is. It is "a firm belief in something for which there is no proof." It is a fact that some people have faith. It has nothing to do with WHICH religion they believe. So, uh, it's somehow similar to thinking people of other ethnicities are inferior -- where in the world do you get that? Totally unrelated.

Yes, it is a fact that some people have faith. That doesn't mean that what they have faith in is factual because that have faith in it. Are we on the same page now?

Again -- you don't understand faith! It is NOT FACTUAL. If it were factual, IT WOULD NOT BE FAITH!! Faith does not prove the existence of God -- it just makes God's existence feel real to those who have faith.

Why do so many people believe in something there is no proof of?

because it's comforting. Because so many others seem to believe it. Because it's the most socially acceptable stance (at least up to now). Because most people were taught to believe, as children, by the people they love and respect and depend on the most. Because people are afraid of the consequences if they don't believe.

That does not apply to me. I believe because I have had personal experience with God, study His Word and have developed a personal relationship with Him. I do not believe God because I am afraid of Hell, I actually do not believe in Hell as traditional Christianity has taught -- I don't think it is a physical place. I think it is a state of being that is totally without God. Plus, I do not believe in what other people have said or did in God's name, I decided to have my OWN relationship. I could say a lot of things about you, but until I have a personal relationship with you, then I don't truly know you.

Saying you study his Word, capital W, implies in the Bible, right? but it sounds like you've decided on your own beliefs, right? and your personal relationship with me, if you had one would be with a flesh-and-blood person, expressing my own thoughts and opinions, in my own way -- not like your relationship with God, which you seem to have interpreted in your own way.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You are being illogical -- or you don't understand what faith is. It is "a firm belief in something for which there is no proof." It is a fact that some people have faith. It has nothing to do with WHICH religion they believe. So, uh, it's somehow similar to thinking people of other ethnicities are inferior -- where in the world do you get that? Totally unrelated.

Yes, it is a fact that some people have faith. That doesn't mean that what they have faith in is factual because that have faith in it. Are we on the same page now?

Again -- you don't understand faith! It is NOT FACTUAL. If it were factual, IT WOULD NOT BE FAITH!! Faith does not prove the existence of God -- it just makes God's existence feel real to those who have faith.

Why do so many people believe in something there is no proof of?

because it's comforting. Because so many others seem to believe it. Because it's the most socially acceptable stance (at least up to now). Because most people were taught to believe, as children, by the people they love and respect and depend on the most. Because people are afraid of the consequences if they don't believe.

That does not apply to me. I believe because I have had personal experience with God, study His Word and have developed a personal relationship with Him. I do not believe God because I am afraid of Hell, I actually do not believe in Hell as traditional Christianity has taught -- I don't think it is a physical place. I think it is a state of being that is totally without God. Plus, I do not believe in what other people have said or did in God's name, I decided to have my OWN relationship. I could say a lot of things about you, but until I have a personal relationship with you, then I don't truly know you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New to this forum and haven't rad others' posts.

I am convinced that God *does* show Himself in *many* ways but people just aren't seeing Him. Probably makes him very sad. :*(

Pray, get closer to God, read a lot, and you will start seeing Him in so many ways.

I don't think it makes Him sad, but I do think people are missing an opportunity to be closer to HIm.

Interesting. I do think it makes Him sad. He is our Father and He loves us just as much as we love we love our own children, and wouldn't it make you sad if you were loving your child so much and doing so much for him/her, and the kid just kind of blew you off and didn't really pay any attention to you? That is why I think it makes Him sad. He has done so much for us; He has MADE us; He DIED for us, etc.

See the way I see it is that we as humans cannot add to or take away from God in any context. Our actions do not make God "sad" but rather being closer to Him and having hearts searching for Him is a fulfillment of a deep purpose, but no, we cannot make God "less than" He is by our actions.

This, This, This!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New to this forum and haven't rad others' posts.

I am convinced that God *does* show Himself in *many* ways but people just aren't seeing Him. Probably makes him very sad. :*(

Pray, get closer to God, read a lot, and you will start seeing Him in so many ways.

I don't think it makes Him sad, but I do think people are missing an opportunity to be closer to HIm.

Interesting. I do think it makes Him sad. He is our Father and He loves us just as much as we love we love our own children, and wouldn't it make you sad if you were loving your child so much and doing so much for him/her, and the kid just kind of blew you off and didn't really pay any attention to you? That is why I think it makes Him sad. He has done so much for us; He has MADE us; He DIED for us, etc.

Not the pp to whom you are responding. No, I do not think God gets "sad". God is total perfected Spirit, he does not "feel" Love, He IS LOVE, see the difference. As spirits having a physical experience, we "have" emotions/feelings but God is not a person, he does not operate like that. I think one of the reasons so many people do not "see" God is that we often worship a little god, and not the big God that is our Heavenly Father. We want to make Him person-like when He is so much more than that. He is God our Father, God our Redeemer, God our Protector, He IS. That is so much more than a person could ever be. That is why He had to come down as the Christ (all man and all God) in order to bring us closer to Himself.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New to this forum and haven't rad others' posts.

I am convinced that God *does* show Himself in *many* ways but people just aren't seeing Him. Probably makes him very sad. :*(

Pray, get closer to God, read a lot, and you will start seeing Him in so many ways.

I don't think it makes Him sad, but I do think people are missing an opportunity to be closer to HIm.

Interesting. I do think it makes Him sad. He is our Father and He loves us just as much as we love we love our own children, and wouldn't it make you sad if you were loving your child so much and doing so much for him/her, and the kid just kind of blew you off and didn't really pay any attention to you? That is why I think it makes Him sad. He has done so much for us; He has MADE us; He DIED for us, etc.

See the way I see it is that we as humans cannot add to or take away from God in any context. Our actions do not make God "sad" but rather being closer to Him and having hearts searching for Him is a fulfillment of a deep purpose, but no, we cannot make God "less than" He is by our actions.

Hmm, don't see how this would "take away" for God in any way, but, at any rate, this is not a huge sticking point for me so I'll go with it and I think we both agree that if others would just pray, get closer to God, read more about Him, apply themselves, etc., then they will indeed see that God is all around us, in many ways!

Yup, we agree.

In fact, maybe He is working, through us, right now, in our posting in this thread and showing that He is here, and right with us all!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New to this forum and haven't rad others' posts.

I am convinced that God *does* show Himself in *many* ways but people just aren't seeing Him. Probably makes him very sad. :*(

Pray, get closer to God, read a lot, and you will start seeing Him in so many ways.

I don't think it makes Him sad, but I do think people are missing an opportunity to be closer to HIm.

Interesting. I do think it makes Him sad. He is our Father and He loves us just as much as we love we love our own children, and wouldn't it make you sad if you were loving your child so much and doing so much for him/her, and the kid just kind of blew you off and didn't really pay any attention to you? That is why I think it makes Him sad. He has done so much for us; He has MADE us; He DIED for us, etc.

See the way I see it is that we as humans cannot add to or take away from God in any context. Our actions do not make God "sad" but rather being closer to Him and having hearts searching for Him is a fulfillment of a deep purpose, but no, we cannot make God "less than" He is by our actions.

Hmm, don't see how this would "take away" for God in any way, but, at any rate, this is not a huge sticking point for me so I'll go with it and I think we both agree that if others would just pray, get closer to God, read more about Him, apply themselves, etc., then they will indeed see that God is all around us, in many ways!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New to this forum and haven't rad others' posts.

I am convinced that God *does* show Himself in *many* ways but people just aren't seeing Him. Probably makes him very sad. :*(

Pray, get closer to God, read a lot, and you will start seeing Him in so many ways.

I don't think it makes Him sad, but I do think people are missing an opportunity to be closer to HIm.

Interesting. I do think it makes Him sad. He is our Father and He loves us just as much as we love we love our own children, and wouldn't it make you sad if you were loving your child so much and doing so much for him/her, and the kid just kind of blew you off and didn't really pay any attention to you? That is why I think it makes Him sad. He has done so much for us; He has MADE us; He DIED for us, etc.

See the way I see it is that we as humans cannot add to or take away from God in any context. Our actions do not make God "sad" but rather being closer to Him and having hearts searching for Him is a fulfillment of a deep purpose, but no, we cannot make God "less than" He is by our actions.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New to this forum and haven't rad others' posts.

I am convinced that God *does* show Himself in *many* ways but people just aren't seeing Him. Probably makes him very sad. :*(

Pray, get closer to God, read a lot, and you will start seeing Him in so many ways.

I don't think it makes Him sad, but I do think people are missing an opportunity to be closer to HIm.

Interesting. I do think it makes Him sad. He is our Father and He loves us just as much as we love we love our own children, and wouldn't it make you sad if you were loving your child so much and doing so much for him/her, and the kid just kind of blew you off and didn't really pay any attention to you? That is why I think it makes Him sad. He has done so much for us; He has MADE us; He DIED for us, etc.

all that, and he couldn't get everyone to believe in him? not so wonderful after all.

Humans have free will.

Anonymous wrote:and he will roast us in hell, if we don't believe in him. It that how a loving parent treats a child who doesn't please him?

We have free will. A loving parent does all they can to teach their child the right way, but ultimately, it is the child's life and the child grows up to make his own choices. Would you rather He control us all our lives and make our decisions for us?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New to this forum and haven't rad others' posts.

I am convinced that God *does* show Himself in *many* ways but people just aren't seeing Him. Probably makes him very sad. :*(

Pray, get closer to God, read a lot, and you will start seeing Him in so many ways.

I don't think it makes Him sad, but I do think people are missing an opportunity to be closer to HIm.

Interesting. I do think it makes Him sad. He is our Father and He loves us just as much as we love we love our own children, and wouldn't it make you sad if you were loving your child so much and doing so much for him/her, and the kid just kind of blew you off and didn't really pay any attention to you? That is why I think it makes Him sad. He has done so much for us; He has MADE us; He DIED for us, etc.

all that, and he couldn't get everyone to believe in him? not so wonderful after all.

and he will roast us in hell, if we don't believe in him. It that how a loving parent treats a child who doesn't please him?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New to this forum and haven't rad others' posts.

I am convinced that God *does* show Himself in *many* ways but people just aren't seeing Him. Probably makes him very sad. :*(

Pray, get closer to God, read a lot, and you will start seeing Him in so many ways.

I don't think it makes Him sad, but I do think people are missing an opportunity to be closer to HIm.

Interesting. I do think it makes Him sad. He is our Father and He loves us just as much as we love we love our own children, and wouldn't it make you sad if you were loving your child so much and doing so much for him/her, and the kid just kind of blew you off and didn't really pay any attention to you? That is why I think it makes Him sad. He has done so much for us; He has MADE us; He DIED for us, etc.

Anonymous wrote:New to this forum and haven't rad others' posts.

I am convinced that God *does* show Himself in *many* ways but people just aren't seeing Him. Probably makes him very sad. :*(

Pray, get closer to God, read a lot, and you will start seeing Him in so many ways.

I don't think it makes Him sad, but I do think people are missing an opportunity to be closer to HIm.