Stayed Too Long

The floor is yours. Please instruct me how to understand.

Sure, if you can point out the errors in my logic please do so. Thanks

2 Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. This subject seems to be the plight we are very much experiencing today. Personal unhappiness and mental illnes are every where in our culture. And vast amounts of monies are directed at countering alcoholism, homelessness, and drug abuse, but they continue to grow. Some new study is referenced to adopt this or that concept. Program after program is available to veterans to fight homelessness, but the vet continue to live in a tent. An Indian Reservation has outlawed alcohol sales, but the natives go off the reservation to get drunk. Drug addicts have resources available to overcome their addictions, but continue to be users. Everytime a problem is identified the solution is to throw more money at it, but no real results are realized. The news contain story after story of those needing help, but no real solutions. Answers seem to be available but those in need do not make themselves available to them, or the so called solutions do not perform as anticipated. I don’t think a belief in any particular god is the answer, but do find the above scripture intriguing. What are your thoughts?

Many of the wars fought throughout history, and certainly those of the present time, are carried out in the name of religion. It really doesn’t matter what religion it, at some point they have murdered others in the name of their god. The death, destruction and pain inflicted upon their adversarial religions, are not the actions of those worshipping a loving god. One has to ask why did these so called loving gods create an adversarial god, that would under all circumstances, oppose them? Supposedly it is because this creating god was so lonely for love, he made little creatures in his image. And these creatures would be put through tests to determine if they loved this god. If they failed the test, they would be turned over to the adversarial god for eternal destruction. Does not make sense from a logical point of view. I wonder if John Lennon could really “Imagine” fulfilling all the points he sang about in that song? It is certainly difficult to see where he “had no possessions,” in his life. Lennon was one of those who lived by, do as I say, not as I do.

I just visited a relative who has been diagnosed with dementia. Not only is her mind being diminished, but her muscles are also. She must go to a physical therapist three times a week just to maintain the ability to move about. She asked, “why is God allowing this to happen to me?” In her next breath she said, “oh well, I guess He has a good reason putting me through this.” My immediate thought went to this thread and thinking, she has to have been vaccinated for the reason virus. How can a loving heavenly father allow his daughter to suffer like this? Absolutely no sane worldly father would even consider letting his daughter suffer like this, especially if they had the power to prevent it. Remember God created the devil, who God blames for causing all the havoc in the world. From a logical point of view, no earthly father would setup an obstacle for their child to fail, especially one that the child has no control over. Supposedly God was so in need of love, he decided to create people who would have the opportunity to love Him. But, this God who is in need of love, put conditions on those who would love him. But if the created people did not meet the conditions set forth by God, they will be punished. Why create people who God, in His for knowledge, KNEW would not love him? Then, He must punish those who did not love Him by giving them over to the flawed Devil, whom He created? Alot of people who received a Covid shot, flu shot, etc, also received the vaccine for the Reason Virus. If a father acted like God he would be arrested and convicted a child abuse.

The Texas Rangers beat the Airizona DiamondBacks 4 games to 1 to win the 2023 World Series. Congratulations!

https://www.history.com/news/halloween-samhain-celts-catholic-church

All of us who sat through PFAL and stayed with VP and TWI for any length of time, certainly were one of the suckers born every minute. It does take incite and strength to realize you have been taken in by a charlatan and escape.

If it is a secret how would we even know where to look for it? It is merely a term Victor came up that doesn’t deserve a minute of our time.

Having grown up in the RC church and having attended parochial schools, I can say that the faithful who work tirelessly are doing it out of love for their religion. They believe their work is of benefit to God and other followers and believe God will bless them now and in the future in heaven. My mother worked for the local church and helped out where ever she could. Her belief in God got her through some very difficult times in her life. I am sure there are some who do it to be seen, but for the most part, they love their religion. It isn’t unusual for people to spend hours doing things they believe in and enjoy doing. Fans of sports can spend all weekend in front of the TV cheering on their favorite teams. Quilters can spend hours a day putting together a new blanket. Hunters can spend an entire season looking for that special animal to mount on their wall.

Good point! Thank you.

A large number are God related books. Some people hate the freedom of religion clause in the first amendment. https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/more-than-350-books-banned-in-florida-schools-since-last-july-16817328

Hebrews 10:17 Then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Going to the bible one can pull a verse to prove just about anything. WW’s verse is quite damning and declares it would be better for a person to die than cause a little one to sin. My two verses show a God that is very forgiving, and willing to forgive all indiscretions. I guess it all depends on how you might feel on any given day. Do you want to come down hard on someone, or is your plan to exercise discretion and treat the sinner gently? You can choose A,B, or C, or all of the above.

You can certainly put VPW into this catagory, also. As far as being evil goes, folks who believe in God can be as evil as any unbeliever. RC priests have committed some of the most heinous sins and crimes against children. I’m sure they convinced themselves that the only proper thing to do is whatever evil thing they’d set in their heart to do in the first place. Is God going to consider them sheep or goats?

If, as I suggested, that people should go about the world doing good works, they would be placed on God’s right hand, and counted as the sheep. It appears to me, as an atheist, I’ll spend eternity with God…assuming that there is a God. All my bases are covered….if there is a God I’ll be in His hip pocket. If there is no God, I’ll have made the world a better place, and will be thankful for my works benefiting someone. I will not your assistance to enable the help files.

Some believe in God, others are atheists or agnostics https://apnews.com/article/nonreligious-united-states-nones-spirituality-humanist-91bb8430280c88fd88530a7ad64b03f8

I searched google for God recommending doing good for the unbeliever, but found no results. Would you please provide a link? Thank you.

I agree we should evaluate our thoughts and take responsibility for them, good or bad. That is how we grow mentally and ultimately in our actions. However, I no longer give a second mention to see if the thought lines up with God, which for me is very freeing. I used to evaluate my thoughts with what God said, and it resulted in considerable condemnation.

This is the fear Christians must deal with every thought. Not only must a Christian be aware of physical sins they have performed, but also must be aware their God keeps track of every nasty thought they think.

Lennon admitted his inspiration for Imagine was actually taken from poems Yoko Ono had written. He basically plagiarized some of her writings by not giving her credit for her work. He also stated it was from the Communist Manifesto. https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/the_story_behind_imagine_by_john_lennon-83853

I don’t know if the Hutterites are squeaky-clean or even what that means. They definitely use electricity, use farm and ranch modern equipment, drive gasoline engine cars, drink booze, buy items from local stores, sell meat, produce, eggs, chickens to local residents and stores. They allow people to hunt on their property. I have no idea what goes on inside the colony. They pay property taxes and income taxes at the corporate level. They do no have an individual income tax. They do not draw unemployment or collect government subsidies such as welfare or snap.

I agree with you. Some of the only groups that have successfully lived the lyrics are religious ones. Around my area of the country there are Hutterites who live a communist lifestyle. They all live in the same cummunity, all have a job to perform, and all well taken care of physically. The Hutterites grow their own vegetable and fruit, and raise their own meat. They make money selling their products to the commubnity.

Lennon believes what he is singing about and is attempting to get listeners to, at least, imagine what it would be like if they lived the lyrics.

One of the lyrics is, “Image no possessions. It’s easy if you try.” John certainly did not live up to this standard, as he had wealth and justified being wealthy. https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/john-lennon-felt-guilty-having-money.html/

My wife and I attended a tribute band to the Beatles called thefabfour.com. One of the songs performed was John Lennon’s “Imagine.” The opening verse is: Imagine there's no heaven It's easy if you try No hell below us Above us only sky Imagine all the people living for today So many people love this song, including Christian friends of mine. Most likes it because it is about loving one another, no more killings, no more hunger, and it is a soothing song. However, when I mention that all this will happen when we no longer believe in God, they just shrug their shoulders, and let it go. No matter the lyrics, they just like the song. It just makes me chuckle.