Jbarrax

Thanks Waysider. :-) I'm glad we see it the same way. I think cultivating the love of God in one's life is worth the sacrifices we make in His name. I'd rather be a basically decent person who lives for 60 years or so than an abject foot taking advantage of the world and other people all my life. I have to believe people who live like that are miserable on the inside.

Just heard a news story about this on NPR's Weekend Edition. Besides the idiocy of trying to predict the Rapture, I don't get why people who claim to know the Bible that well confuse the Rapture and Judgement Day. Didn't Paul write that we would be saved from wrath by being gathered together? Anyway, I guess this is just another example of why we shouldn't take any of these verses too seriously. I believe the NT writers all expected Jesus to return in their lifetimes. Some verses are quite explicit in communicating that expectation..and therefore, obviously as wrong as Camping's prediction that Christ would return in 1994. • Paul for example told the Corinthian Church not to make any serious judgments until Christ came back. (I Cor 4:5) • Revelation 1:5 says that his return would be witnessed by they who crucified him. Too late, they're all long dead. • Almost every Evangelical preacher says that they will do this and that, "if the Lord tarries". Hebrews 10:37 plainly says that he "will not tarry". • The oddest eschatological statement in the New Testament is, imho, Matthew 10:23 which seems to say that Jesus prophesied that the Son of Man would come before his disciples finished their mission to the cities of Israel. But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. What the heck is that supposed to mean? I researched this verse fairly thoroughly when I was studying this (back around 2003) and I couldn't find anyone who could explain it. If anyone cares to read my ramblings about this, I have a pseudo essay online about it that covers just about the entire New Testament starting with the writings of the Apostles and ending with the four gospels. False Hope

Thanks for the link Waysider. I searched the forum for "May 21" and nothing came up. Guessed I should have thought to look for The end of the World. I still don't get how people can associate the Rapture with destruction. Didn't Paul write that we would be saved from wrath by being gathered together? Oh wait, maybe I should post this on the other thread... :-)

I just caught the end of a story on Weekend Edition (NPR's Saturday version of Morning Edition) about a group of Christians who believe that the Church will be raptured on May 21 (2 weeks from today). The predictions come from an old Fundamentalist by the name of Harold Camping who's done this gig before. He predicted it would happen on September 6, 1994. I don't think he got that one right. Anyway, I thought it was interesting and worthy of comment. So has anyone else heard about this guy? Why did he pick May 21, 2011? And why doesn't he know the difference between the gathering together of the Church and Judgment Day? Sheesh! Here's a link to an article about him on NowPublic.com

You're talkin' bout things that nobody cares You're wearin' out things that nobody wears

LaGrange by ZZTop (singing about a notorious brothel, if I'm not mistaken)

Hi Kit. Not to be a contrary but my experience of getting closer to the Lord after leaving TWI was the result of focusing less on the Bible, not more. For me, the knowledge of the Scriptures had taken the place of an intimate relationship with God. I think there are others here who had similar experiences. These days, I pray and speak in tongues regularly, and I still think about the Bible, but I spend very little time studying it. I think the purpose of the Bible is to give Christians a basic doctrinal foundation, and to serve as a bridge to the unsaved. But the goal of Christ's work was not to introduce us to a book. It was to introduce us to Himself and his Father. Maybe it's because I'm not an ordained minister, but I can safely say that the vast majority of the interaction between God and me--the instances of revelation, insight, or the evidence of divine grace in my life these days--has almost nothing to do with Scripture. Instead of helping me understand some nuance of the God-breathed word, He helps me and encourages me toward becoming a better husband, father, artist, and product manager. Whatsoever you do, do heartily as to the Lord and not unto men.

Not to pick a nit with Kit, but...shouldn't this be in the Open section?

Moving on... I would have walked head on into the deep end of the river clingin' to your stocks and bonds, payin' your H.P. demands forever

John cougar Melonhead Mellencamp Authority Song

clueless

Don't get me started George

I have a limo, ride in the back I lock the doors in case I'm attacked

Quinn the Eskimo. Don't know the artist though. Great song, btw. :-)

I think there was a Curly Bill in Tombstone. He was one the leader of the Cowboys, brilliantly played by Powers Boothe. But I must say if it's Tombstone, there are many more memorable lines than that one.

I'm not a big Cohen bros fan. To me their films are just more glorification of violence with a rural twist.

Supertramp. Breakfast in America. . . . . Music is a world within itself With a language we all understand

Actually, I think the pervasiveness of pop culture is more to blame. Life imitates art. Look at the depth of the people who are portrayed and or glamorized daily in popular television show, music, and movies. That's the standard for most people in terms of spiritual and political depth. We're becoming a nation of morons.

"Round up the usual suspects."

I think that's from Gone with the Wind. Rhett addressing Scarlet.

Yep! You're up Trefor. And thanks for the context, So_crates. :-)

Says who? I mean, who decides what level of revelation God can give through nature? Sounds like TWI style hair-splitting to me.

@ CMan Yeah, but if we all believed that, there wouldn't be anything to argue about. And where would be the fun in that? :-) Back on topic...I haven't read Bullinger's work, but I find the field of biblical astronomy interesting. I wonder how it might relate to the current fascination with the Mayan calendar. Anyone got any insights on connections between the Mayans and the Zoroastrians and other ancient sages?

"Never rub another man's rhubarb"

Nope. This was on last night. (On Oxygen I think). This is not THE most famous line from the movie, but it leads up to it. It's near the beginning of the climactic courtroom confrontation between Col Nathan Jessup and Lt. Daniel Kaffee. Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise in A Few Good Men "I want the truth. You can't handle the truth!"