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We serve an amazing LORD! He is Good and does good all the time! I am so excited to know Him and to belong to Him!
What I want is to hear from you about what God is doing in your life! Can you tell me how you have seen the goodness of God in your life?
When I was 12 I was diagnosed with bone cancer. It had spread so bad that the doctors told my parent I had a 1 out of 10 chance of making it. Here I am 19 years old.
Not much. I run my own life, well as much as I can with a wife and kids. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by savedsinner7
I have a beautiful loving wife for whom I thank God everyday. I have four wonderful children for whom I thank God everyday. I am alive and healthy for which I thank God everyday. I have a brother, sister and mother still with me, for whom I thank God everyday.Quote:
Originally Posted by savedsinner7
I feel the presence of God and His Angels and Saints in my life everyday.
Give glory to the Lord for he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever!!
Sincerely,
De Maria
I am very happy that you have found solace and happiness. But I have to take exception to your statement that he does good all the time. In the last couple of weeks we have had two natural disasters that have and will claim thousands of lives. By what standard is this doing good??Quote:
Originally Posted by savedsinner7
As for me, I don't "belong" to anyone but my family. Personally I don't believe that god is doing anything in my life. I believe I control my own destiny.
God is good all the time. Only people who truly understand God will know this truth.
As far as what God is doing in my life. Well I am alive right at this moment. Each moment is more of a miracle that I would have not experienced without his creation.
I have been blessed with life, a family and a job.
God is ultimately responsible for everything that happens in life. But the primary responsibility for the evil that enters our life is the enemy's. Satan.Quote:
Originally Posted by ScottGem
However God permits Satan to bring this evil upon us in order to test our fidelity to Him.
Now, it is obvous, that by your standard, you don't consider this good. But we who are Christians live by God's standard, not yours.
1 Peter 4
19 Wherefore let them also that suffer according to the will of God, commend their souls in good deeds to the faithful Creator.
1 Peter 2
21 For unto this are you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example that you should follow his steps.
As for me... :Quote:
As for me, I don't "belong" to anyone but my family. Personally I don't believe that god is doing anything in my life. I believe I control my own destiny.
Josue 24 15... and my house we will serve the Lord.
Sincerely,
De Maria
Johndeere, I am very very happy that you beat your cancer and I hope you are living a happy and fulfilled life. Inspirational you are.
It just makes me a little sad and angry though that god didn't have the time to answer my aunt's prayers and save her form her bone cancer. No, he ignored her and left her to die a painful and horrible death at the age of 30. Some god.
I'd prefer to run my own race and not rely or belong to something that there is no proof exists.
You are right, I don't consider it good. One should show their fidelity to their god by doing good works, by living the type of life that their god has proscribed for them.Quote:
Originally Posted by De Maria
I can't imagine an omnipotent being that is so insecure that it needs to constantly test the loyalty of its worshipers. I can't find solace in a God who allows bad things to happen and who's only answer to why is that there is some grand plan that is beyond your understanding. Frankly, I believe this whole Satan/Evil thing was made up by the men who eventually wrote the bibles to explain away why bad things happen so that people wouldn't turn away from a God that allowed them to happen. I think the Greeks and Romans had the better idea, but humanizing their gods more and making then subject to peevishness.
Again, I am glad you find solace in the writings in the Bible. I'm galid your faith is strong and helps you deal with adversity. But I'm a fact and logic type of guy. An argument of because that's way God set it up, isn't logical and doesn't work with me. I'm not trying to attack your beliefs, just to state an alternative.
"You are right, I don't consider it good. One should show their fidelity to their god by doing good works, by living the type of life that their god has proscribed for them.
I can't imagine an omnipotent being that is so insecure that it needs to constantly test the loyalty of its worshipers."
Your first 2 sentences are what most anti organized religion feel. Organized religion is believed to be a way to mandate the rules of good and bad and manipulate believers into certain behaviors. Your 3rd sentence is consistent with this belief.
Then there is the reality of GRACE.
There is no deed or work that you can DO to make God love you any more or less.
Ephesians 2:8- Deut 31:6
That is how secure this omnipotent being is in the power of His love.
We know in THIS lifetime that "good behavior will be rewarded and bad behavior will be punished" is NOT true.
John deer is not "better' than skell's 30 yo aunt, and that is why johndeere is here on earth. The Bible tells us that there will be trials [ James 1:2 , 1 Peter 1;6 ] in this life, but the Bible also tells us there is no suffering in Heaven [ Rev 21:4 ]. My condolences, Skell.
Quote:
Originally Posted by savedsinner7
22 years ago, I prayed and prayed to get into professional school, and into the summer when things start to look hopeless I received 2 acceptances in the span of a week.
My wife and I are still married and stronger. 6 years soon. I can't find the site, but you plug in some personal factors and it gives you statistical odds on your chances of being married at a given anniversary. For us it was < 20%, and that does not include what we have done to each other - only by asking God has He helped us persevere through the bad times.
This is actually one of the better answers I've received when I have previously expressed similar statements.Quote:
Originally Posted by inthebox
Its not that I'm anti-organized religion, I just don't believe in it for myself. I am happy for people that find solace and comfort in their religions. But after careful thought I cannot for myself. I find comfort and solace in knowing I live a life doing good things (one of the reasons I'm here).
As for your quote: "There is no deed or work that you can DO to make God love you any more or less." That, like other quotes I've seen can be very contradictory. How do you reconcile that with De Maria's position? If there is nothing one can do to change how God feels about you, then why bother testing their love or faith?
The Almighty is Good.
This goodness of the Almighty does not mean that all believers will always be happy or all unbelievers will be in hardship.Or everyone will always be in comfort and contentment.
It is in the reminders around us that help us to think of our own limited time on this earth.Reminders of how fleeting this life is and how someone else's hardships makes us thankful for the things we do have in life.
Or how loss of the worldly things we hold dear makes us realise that it was the wrong things we were holding onto when we had loved ones who need us or other people in need of our help.
I believe it teaches us lessons,that the cool breeze we feel can one day become a violent whirlwind and these things are not predictable,the same with this life we have.
This life is temporary,the riches we have,the people we love,the houses we build,none of these are forever.
I believe the storms and disasters, there are lessons to be learned,people who oppress others need reminders that they are not in control.
Those who die,whether in disasters or in the comfort of their beds or with loved ones,they are either free from this world or if they were not good people,the world is free from them.
As I do mourn for the people who have lost their families,it is up to those of us who have to try to help as much as we can.Even if we are not able to reach those victims of the recent disasters,I am sure the incidents reminded us of the poor and needy near us and the poor children near us whom we could help.
Natural disasters remind us of our own mortality and in these very reminders is the goodness of the Almighty that He gives us signs whether we take heed or not is up to us.
For me, I see the signs and I believe and take heed that it may be my life that ends tomorrow whether in a storm or in calm or in sickness or good health, that time will surely come and there is so much I need to do to prepare.
I have been a carer for one person or another for much of my life which has been extremely hard work , there have been many times that I have thought... I just cannot go on keeping a full time job and being a carer as well... there have been times when I've been to tired to eat or put one foot in front of the other but I've known that I would be on call throughout the night and somehow I have come through it all, this could only have been the work of the good guy upstairs for I am not a very big person and have no physical strength, especially when it involves lifting someone over twice my weight, never the less I would always manage it. I think we all say the words... dear lord give me strength... I did many times . Thankfully he did.
There are many things that against all odds, should not happen, only little things but things that would have put me in real trouble had they continued. I have already said that I am a carer and also have to work for a living so my car is a priority in life, there have been many times it has broken down, many times it should not have started, usually in the middle of the night or some other emergency, it's only an old Rover but it getes me from a-b which is fine, to be truthful it should have gone to the scrapeyard in the sky many years ago but right now it's my best friend I've became very atatched to it and all it's alments( bit like me really) again somehow it keeps going, I am certain that when in trouble the goodguy is there to help no one has offered to help throughout my life and I'm sure having had a real bad time this last year most people would have gone down but some how I kept standing up... I THANK GOD for that
Nor am I attacking your beliefs. I was simply answering your question,Quote:
Originally Posted by ScottGem
Now, you may have meant it as a rhetorical question which you did not wish answered. But I took the opportunity to answer it because many faithful people also struggle with that question.Quote:
"But I have to take exception to your statement that he does good all the time. In the last couple of weeks we have had two natural disasters that have and will claim thousands of lives. By what standard is this doing good????
And we do.Quote:
You are right, I don't consider it good. One should show their fidelity to their god by doing good works, by living the type of life that their god has proscribed for them.
You probably don't care, but others might be interested. You've misunderstood the reason that God permits suffering. Its not for Him to find out who is faithful and who isn't. It is for us to make the decision. How much do we love God?Quote:
I can't imagine an omnipotent being that is so insecure that it needs to constantly test the loyalty of its worshipers.
You see, God already knows, but we don't. So, we have to live our lives and decide, to whom do we want to belong, to creature or to Creator.
And where do you find solace in a world where you deny the existence of God and bad things still happen?Quote:
I can't find solace in a God who allows bad things to happen
The answer is not beyond everyone's understanding. Many of us understand it. Some people are incapable of understanding it. And many others are capable of believing but refuse to believe it because they would rather make up believe their own ideas.Quote:
and who's only answer to why is that there is some grand plan that is beyond your understanding.
I don't know under which category you fall.
It is your right to hold whatever beliefs you want.Quote:
Frankly, I believe this whole Satan/Evil thing was made up by the men who eventually wrote the bibles to explain away why bad things happen so that people wouldn't turn away from a God that allowed them to happen. I think the Greeks and Romans had the better idea, but humanizing their gods more and making then subject to peevishness.
However, I have compared the doctrine of suffering to many other faiths and I have found that the Catholic Church is 1) virtually the only one that addresses the subject and 2) the Catholic explanation makes sense to me.
And I'm glad you consider yourself a fact and logic type of guy. And I'm glad your philosophy helps you deal with adversity in your life.Quote:
Again, I am glad you find solace in the writings in the Bible. I'm galid your faith is strong and helps you deal with adversity. But I'm a fact and logic type of guy. An argument of because that's way God set it up, isn't logical and doesn't work with me.
As for me, I also consider myself a fact and logic type of guy. And I believe the doctrine of suffering which is taught by the Catholic Church is perfectly consistent with fact and logic.
Sincerely,
De Maria
Im glad I'm "incapabale of understanding". You people who apparently understand actually come across as more confused than we who don't.
Okay this post, and the op questioned what good have you seen the lord do in your life. Honestly, some if you did not see any good personally you did not have to post. This thread is not meant to be a debate or argument about beliefs.
I thought some more about this quote. And I wonder how those proselytizers who claim you have to embrace God according to Christianity reconcile that quote. If that quote is true, then why would I after to worship as a Christian to be "saved"?Quote:
Originally Posted by inthebox
I find solace in being the best person I can be. In doing what I can to help others by sharing my knowledge. By living my life in a way that I can be comfortable with. And why or how does denying God and having bad things still happen affect this. I do not believe in the existence of a God as you do. One of the main reasons is because I can't believe that such a God as described in the Bible, could allow disasters like the recent Cyclone and earthquake.Quote:
Originally Posted by De Maria
You can consider yourself such all you want. But you clearly aren't. As noted above, your logic leaves a lot to be desired. And you operate not on facts but on faith.Quote:
Originally Posted by De Maria
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skell
There is a reason for everything. I know it sounds stupid but I really believe it. I struggle daily with the aftermath of bone cancer, but it has taught me a lot and like you said, I have inspired many people. Don't get me wrong I have my days where I want to give up and not believe, but believing makes the day go a little easier and me a stronger person. I am very sorry to hear about you aunt. I do not believe god ignored her.
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