[Po] -Poem-

[Sein-mit-Hasse]

We all have a choice to do wrong or right
We have a choice to follow darkness or light,
We can go our own way
And choose to follow our flesh every day,
We can live by sin
Following every little whim,
We can decide to be "cool"
Not following any rule,
We don't have to follow God's Word
We can follow this world system like the rest of the herd,
We can run the show without counting the cost
But deep inside we'll feel lack of peace and lost,
Because only when we let God be the master of it all
Only when we let Him make the call,
Will our lives have purpose and be right
Only then will we walk in His light,
God will help us make the right choice if to Him we call out
He doesn't want us to live in defeat or doubt,
He doesn't want us to make wrong choices that lead to regret
And in the long run will cause us to fume and fret,
It's for our own good when we seek God above
He wants to guide us for He is a God of love.  

[Eliza9790]

Hm.. Cool Poem.

Now, first question. How is do you have free will to follow him, when if you don't your going off to be tortured for the rest of enternity? That's like saying, do this or else. It doesn't seem very free to me.

Second question, Why is it better to let someone else (AKA: God) have controle of your life? Aren't you attemting to become more like God? God is not dependent upon anyone.

Thanks!  

[Sein-mit-Hasse]

Eliza9790

Hm.. Cool Poem.

Now, first question. How is do you have free will to follow him, when if you don't your going off to be tortured for the rest of enternity? That's like saying, do this or else. It doesn't seem very free to me.

Second question, Why is it better to let someone else (AKA: God) have controle of your life? Aren't you attemting to become more like God? God is not dependent upon anyone.

Thanks!

1st answer: No you're not going to be tortured for the rest of eternity if you choose not to follow Him. Since it's your choices, nobody can decide for you. If you don't follow Him, that's ok too.
Everyone is different like everything is different, everyone thinks differently too so that's why they all have different opinions. If everyone thought the same thing..wouldn't it be boring?
That's like saying if everyone believed in God, wouldn't they all have the same thoughts? & wouldn'tthey just think the same thing? It's ok to be different & believing in this religion or another 1 is ok too.

__________________________________

2nd answer: Why is it better to let someone else (AKA: God) have controle of your life? Aren't you attemting to become more like God? God is not dependent upon anyone.
No you're not attempting to become more like God. God only has control of your life if you let Him in & open up to Him, that is when he wants to hear your prayer. Did you know that you could talk to Him without talking out loud? When you pray, your mind becomes clear of the negative things & you are opening yourself freely. It is your choice to let Him in or keep Him out. It's better to let God have control of your life because if nobody interfered or if you got badly hurt & nobody was around, would you be able to take care of the wound by yourself? Would you know what to do? If the wound is that bad..who would carry you to the hospital or call the ambulance if nobody was around?
It's like if this pain is coming from the heart, if it's hatred or anger..who would you go to? Would you keep this pain inside & hide it from everyone you know? When you open up yourself it's like a half of you is shared with that someone special. When we begin to trust God once again and turn from our sin, He comes into our lives to begin a new relationship of love with us.
Our faith and love towards God will lead us to recognise His presence with us, to talk with Him, to listen to Him, to sense Him. This is prayer. We express our thanks, our faith, our love, our hopes with God in prayer, and we receive from Him answers, assurance, guidance, peace, strength, power, revelation of who He is and what He wants to do. We pray because we depend on God. God is our source. He is our life. You aren't attempting to become more like God..you're attempting to be closer with God by sharing your feelings & thoughts as well as emotions through prayer. 3nodding

__________________________

Hope that helped heart  

[Lethkhar]

ChainedFury

Eliza9790

Hm.. Cool Poem.

Now, first question. How is do you have free will to follow him, when if you don't your going off to be tortured for the rest of enternity? That's like saying, do this or else. It doesn't seem very free to me.

Second question, Why is it better to let someone else (AKA: God) have controle of your life? Aren't you attemting to become more like God? God is not dependent upon anyone.

Thanks!

1st answer: No you're not going to be tortured for the rest of eternity if you choose not to follow Him. Since it's your choices, nobody can decide for you. If you don't follow Him, that's ok too.
Everyone is different like everything is different, everyone thinks differently too so that's why they all have different opinions. If everyone thought the same thing..wouldn't it be boring?
That's like saying if everyone believed in God, wouldn't they all have the same thoughts? & wouldn'tthey just think the same thing? It's ok to be different & believing in this religion or another 1 is ok too.

It sounds to me like someone has not read the Bible...

Quote:

__________________________________

2nd answer: Why is it better to let someone else (AKA: God) have controle of your life? Aren't you attemting to become more like God? God is not dependent upon anyone.
No you're not attempting to become more like God. God only has control of your life if you let Him in & open up to Him, that is when he wants to hear your prayer. Did you know that you could talk to Him without talking out loud? When you pray, your mind becomes clear of the negative things & you are opening yourself freely. It is your choice to let Him in or keep Him out. It's better to let God have control of your life because if nobody interfered or if you got badly hurt & nobody was around, would you be able to take care of the wound by yourself? Would you know what to do? If the wound is that bad..who would carry you to the hospital or call the ambulance if nobody was around? It's like if this pain is coming from the heart, if it's hatred or anger..who would you go to?

A loved one. Probably my girlfriend.

And contrary to popular belief, God doesn't heal wounds.

Quote:

Would you keep this pain inside & hide it from everyone you know?

No.

Quote:

When you open up yourself it's like a half of you is shared with that someone special.

I know what that's like...And it has nothing to do with a deity. (Though I could argue that she's my Goddess...)

Quote:

When we begin to trust God once again and turn from our sin, He comes into our lives to begin a new relationship of love with us.
Our faith and love towards God will lead us to recognise His presence with us, to talk with Him, to listen to Him, to sense Him. This is prayer. We express our thanks, our faith, our love, our hopes with God in prayer, and we receive from Him answers, assurance, guidance, peace, strength, power, revelation of who He is and what He wants to do. We pray because we depend on God. God is our source. He is our life. You aren't attempting to become more like God..you're attempting to be closer with God by sharing your feelings & thoughts as well as emotions through prayer. 3nodding

Why?  

[Sein-mit-Hasse]

Lethkhar

ChainedFury

Eliza9790

Hm.. Cool Poem.

Now, first question. How is do you have free will to follow him, when if you don't your going off to be tortured for the rest of enternity? That's like saying, do this or else. It doesn't seem very free to me.

Second question, Why is it better to let someone else (AKA: God) have controle of your life? Aren't you attemting to become more like God? God is not dependent upon anyone.

Thanks!

1st answer: No you're not going to be tortured for the rest of eternity if you choose not to follow Him. Since it's your choices, nobody can decide for you. If you don't follow Him, that's ok too.
Everyone is different like everything is different, everyone thinks differently too so that's why they all have different opinions. If everyone thought the same thing..wouldn't it be boring?
That's like saying if everyone believed in God, wouldn't they all have the same thoughts? & wouldn'tthey just think the same thing? It's ok to be different & believing in this religion or another 1 is ok too.

It sounds to me like someone has not read the Bible...

Quote:

__________________________________

2nd answer: Why is it better to let someone else (AKA: God) have controle of your life? Aren't you attemting to become more like God? God is not dependent upon anyone.
No you're not attempting to become more like God. God only has control of your life if you let Him in & open up to Him, that is when he wants to hear your prayer. Did you know that you could talk to Him without talking out loud? When you pray, your mind becomes clear of the negative things & you are opening yourself freely. It is your choice to let Him in or keep Him out. It's better to let God have control of your life because if nobody interfered or if you got badly hurt & nobody was around, would you be able to take care of the wound by yourself? Would you know what to do? If the wound is that bad..who would carry you to the hospital or call the ambulance if nobody was around? It's like if this pain is coming from the heart, if it's hatred or anger..who would you go to?

A loved one. Probably my girlfriend.

And contrary to popular belief, God doesn't heal wounds.

Quote:

Would you keep this pain inside & hide it from everyone you know?

No.

Quote:

When you open up yourself it's like a half of you is shared with that someone special.

I know what that's like...And it has nothing to do with a deity. (Though I could argue that she's my Goddess...)

Quote:

When we begin to trust God once again and turn from our sin, He comes into our lives to begin a new relationship of love with us.
Our faith and love towards God will lead us to recognise His presence with us, to talk with Him, to listen to Him, to sense Him. This is prayer. We express our thanks, our faith, our love, our hopes with God in prayer, and we receive from Him answers, assurance, guidance, peace, strength, power, revelation of who He is and what He wants to do. We pray because we depend on God. God is our source. He is our life. You aren't attempting to become more like God..you're attempting to be closer with God by sharing your feelings & thoughts as well as emotions through prayer. 3nodding

Why?

Why? well why not? confused
We receive His righteousness when we repent, confess our sins and believe that we receive His righteousness. We should know then that "we are the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21) and we can come directly to have an audience with God because of the sacrifice of Jesus in our place. We come as children of God (Galatians 3:26; John 1:12), as members of the royal family of God (Revelation 1:6), and NOT AS BEGGARS or STRANGERS. Therefore when we pray we should expect that God will grant results in response to our prayer.  

[Lethkhar]

ChainedFury

Lethkhar

ChainedFury

Eliza9790

Hm.. Cool Poem.

Now, first question. How is do you have free will to follow him, when if you don't your going off to be tortured for the rest of enternity? That's like saying, do this or else. It doesn't seem very free to me.

Second question, Why is it better to let someone else (AKA: God) have controle of your life? Aren't you attemting to become more like God? God is not dependent upon anyone.

Thanks!

1st answer: No you're not going to be tortured for the rest of eternity if you choose not to follow Him. Since it's your choices, nobody can decide for you. If you don't follow Him, that's ok too.
Everyone is different like everything is different, everyone thinks differently too so that's why they all have different opinions. If everyone thought the same thing..wouldn't it be boring?
That's like saying if everyone believed in God, wouldn't they all have the same thoughts? & wouldn'tthey just think the same thing? It's ok to be different & believing in this religion or another 1 is ok too.

It sounds to me like someone has not read the Bible...

Quote:

__________________________________

2nd answer: Why is it better to let someone else (AKA: God) have controle of your life? Aren't you attemting to become more like God? God is not dependent upon anyone.
No you're not attempting to become more like God. God only has control of your life if you let Him in & open up to Him, that is when he wants to hear your prayer. Did you know that you could talk to Him without talking out loud? When you pray, your mind becomes clear of the negative things & you are opening yourself freely. It is your choice to let Him in or keep Him out. It's better to let God have control of your life because if nobody interfered or if you got badly hurt & nobody was around, would you be able to take care of the wound by yourself? Would you know what to do? If the wound is that bad..who would carry you to the hospital or call the ambulance if nobody was around? It's like if this pain is coming from the heart, if it's hatred or anger..who would you go to?

A loved one. Probably my girlfriend.

And contrary to popular belief, God doesn't heal wounds.

Quote:

Would you keep this pain inside & hide it from everyone you know?

No.

Quote:

When you open up yourself it's like a half of you is shared with that someone special.

I know what that's like...And it has nothing to do with a deity. (Though I could argue that she's my Goddess...)

Quote:

When we begin to trust God once again and turn from our sin, He comes into our lives to begin a new relationship of love with us.
Our faith and love towards God will lead us to recognise His presence with us, to talk with Him, to listen to Him, to sense Him. This is prayer. We express our thanks, our faith, our love, our hopes with God in prayer, and we receive from Him answers, assurance, guidance, peace, strength, power, revelation of who He is and what He wants to do. We pray because we depend on God. God is our source. He is our life. You aren't attempting to become more like God..you're attempting to be closer with God by sharing your feelings & thoughts as well as emotions through prayer. 3nodding

Why?

Why? well why not? confused

It's a waste of time.

Quote:

We receive His righteousness when we repent, confess our sins and believe that we receive His righteousness. We should know then that "we are the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21) and we can come directly to have an audience with God because of the sacrifice of Jesus in our place. We come as children of God (Galatians 3:26; John 1:12), as members of the royal family of God (Revelation 1:6), and NOT AS BEGGARS or STRANGERS. Therefore when we pray we should expect that God will grant results in response to our prayer.

Except God never answers prayers. That is an illusion.

How do we know that "answered prayers" are illusions? We simply perform scientific experiments. We ask a group of believers to pray for something and then we watch what happens. What we find, whenever we test the efficacy of prayer scientifically, is that prayer has zero effect:

It does not matter who prays.
It does not matter if we pray to God, Allah, Vishnu, Zeus, Ra or any other human god.
It does not matter what we pray about.
If we perform scientific, double-blind tests on prayer, and if the prayers involve something concrete and measurable (for example, healing people with cancer), we know that there is zero effect from prayer. Every single "answered prayer" is nothing more than a coincidence. Both scientific experiments and your everyday observations of the world show this to be the case every single time.

For example, this article says:

One of the most scientifically rigorous studies yet, published earlier this month, found that the prayers of a distant congregation did not reduce the major complications or death rate in patients hospitalized for heart treatments.
And:
A review of 17 past studies of ''distant healing," published in 2003 by a British researcher, found no significant effect for prayer or other healing methods.

this article from March, 2006 discusses the fact that the same conclusion was reached in another study:

In the largest study of its kind, researchers found that having people pray for heart bypass surgery patients had no effect on their recovery. In fact, patients who knew they were being prayed for had a slightly higher rate of complications.

In this article we find an amazing quote where theologians and religious leaders declare that prayer has no actual effect:
Religious leaders will breathe a sigh of relief at the news that so-called intercessory prayer is medically ineffective. In a large and much touted scientific study, one group of patients was told that strangers would pray for them, a second group was told strangers might or might not pray for them, and a third group was not prayed for at all. The $2.4 million study found that the strangers' prayers did not help patients' recovery.

This is a remarkable example of "positive spin" -- religious leaders are "breathing a sigh of relief" because prayer has been shown to be meaningless. The fact that prayer is a total waste of time does not matter to them. It does not matter that all of Jesus' promises about prayer in the Bible have been proven completely false.

It's not just prayer that is ineffective. Not even a hopeful attitude helps. According to this article:

A positive attitude does not improve the chances of surviving cancer and doctors who encourage patients to keep up hope may be burdening them, according to the results of research released Monday.
The dictionary defines the word "superstition" in this way:

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary

Main Entry: su·per·sti·tion
Pronunciation: "sü-p&r-'sti-sh&n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English supersticion, from Anglo-French, from Latin superstition-, superstitio, from superstit-, superstes standing over (as witness or survivor), from super- + stare to stand -- more at STAND
1 a : a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation b : an irrational abject attitude of mind toward the supernatural, nature, or God resulting from superstition
2 : a notion maintained despite evidence to the contrary

The belief in prayer is a superstition. It has been proven scientifically over and over again. When a prayer appears to be answered, it is a coincidence. Quite simply, prayer has absolutely no effect on the outcome of any event. The "power of prayer" is actually "the power of coincidence."
Prayer does not work because God is completely imaginary.  

[Sein-mit-Hasse]

No he is not imaginary & He exists. Maybe it's just that you were misled. Why doesn't God answer everyones prayers? . . It may be because they don't have a relationship with God. They may know that God exists, and they might even worship God from time to time. But those who never seem to have their prayers answered probably don't have a relationship with him. cry  

[Lethkhar]

ChainedFury

No he is not imaginary & He exists. Maybe it's just that you were misled. Why doesn't God answer everyones prayers? . . It may be because they don't have a relationship with God. They may know that God exists, and they might even worship God from time to time. But those who never seem to have their prayers answered probably don't have a relationship with him. cry

I don't think you read my entire post:

Lethkhar

It does not matter who prays.
It does not matter if we pray to God, Allah, Vishnu, Zeus, Ra or any other human god.
It does not matter what we pray about.
If we perform scientific, double-blind tests on prayer, and if the prayers involve something concrete and measurable (for example, healing people with cancer), we know that there is zero effect from prayer. Every single "answered prayer" is nothing more than a coincidence. Both scientific experiments and your everyday observations of the world show this to be the case every single time.

 

[Fushigi na Butterfly]

Just because it can't be empirically proven doesn't mean it doesn't exist or isn't possible. You can't prove that people are psychic or that dowsing works either, but it's possible. Anything's possible. -shrug-

Now, to answer the two questions that Eliza posted:

Eliza9790

Now, first question. How is do you have free will to follow him, when if you don't your going off to be tortured for the rest of enternity? That's like saying, do this or else. It doesn't seem very free to me.

Say I knew that an atomic bomb were going to be dropped on the country. I couldn't prove it to you with any real evidence, aside from some possibly shaky forms of it. Say, also, that I was the only one who knew the way to the shelter that would protect everyone from dying once the bomb was dropped. If you don't follow me, you're going to die. That's just a fact of cause and effect. The choice is still yours. You have free will. The same with Christianity.

And yes, Lethkhar, before you go pointing out that my analogy to Christianity included "shaky evidence" as what a person would have to go on, admittedly, the evidence that Christians have as their reasons for following Christ aren't always clear as rain to everyone else, as you have proven to me. Doesn't mean it isn't true or doesn't count.

Eliza9790

Second question, Why is it better to let someone else (AKA: God) have controle of your life? Aren't you attemting to become more like God? God is not dependent upon anyone.

Because God is the Creator of all things, including us. He has a plan for us and knows the outcome of our lives. Who better, then, to direct us? We are attempting to be more like God, but how can we become more like Him if we don't allow Him to lead us? And yes, God is not dependent on anyone, but we aren't God and we never will be. We are to be like God in our love for Him and our love for others. It's a process that is never fully realized until after we are resurrected, when we will be with God for eternity and will know how to love completely and unconditionally the way He does.  

[Lethkhar]

Fushigi na Butterfly

Just because it can't be empirically proven doesn't mean it doesn't exist or isn't possible. You can't prove that people are psychic or that dowsing works either, but it's possible. Anything's possible. -shrug-
No, but you can disprove that dowsing works and disprove that people are psychic. You just have to find a few dowsers or a psychics that's willing to be tested.

And actually, dowsing rods work. Not because they can actually sense water, but because they practically can't lose. Water can be found underground almost anywhere in the world, on almost any piece of land. That's what wells are.

Quote:

Eliza9790

Now, first question. How is do you have free will to follow him, when if you don't your going off to be tortured for the rest of enternity? That's like saying, do this or else. It doesn't seem very free to me.

Say I knew that an atomic bomb were going to be dropped on the country. I couldn't prove it to you with any real evidence, aside from some possibly shaky forms of it. Say, also, that I was the only one who knew the way to the shelter that would protect everyone from dying once the bomb was dropped. If you don't follow me, you're going to die. That's just a fact of cause and effect. The choice is still yours. You have free will. The same with Christianity.

And yes, Lethkhar, before you go pointing out that my analogy to Christianity included "shaky evidence" as what a person would have to go on, admittedly, the evidence that Christians have as their reasons for following Christ aren't always clear as rain to everyone else, as you have proven to me. Doesn't mean it isn't true or doesn't count.

Actually, that wasn't my quandry. My problem is that your analogy is incorrect. It should be more like this:

Suppose I believed that Canada had atomic missiles (Which is doesn't) and it was going to nuke the U.S. (Which it wouldn't. Canada is our ally.) Say, also, that I thought I was the only one who knew the way to the "true" shelter that would protect everyone from dying once the bomb was dropped. (All the other shelters, apparently, are inept) If you don't follow me, I think you're going to die. You have to abandon your house, job, and everything you know and love to come hide in this bomb shelter with me. The choice is still yours. You have free will. The same with Christianity.

And even that logic doesn't make any sense. It's a threat, isn't it? No free will involved. You're blackmailing me. It's like a mafia deal or something.

"Well, you don't have to do it. We'll just give you some cement shoes if you don't."  

[moonlight2melody]

I think that we pray to help build our relations ship with God and realize that hes thre for us to talk to. Most of the time though God doesnt answer prayers for reason that not even you can see.. Something that will effect you in the future.. Also many people pray for things that are not important or that they just dont see the big picture. Also when God does answer prayers we are so busy with our lives that we do not notice them or even know they were answered. So again praying helps you build a relationship with him, to let him know what and who you care about. Just my opinion though  

[moonlight2melody]

For the 1st question I understand completely what Eliza was trying to say. I think about that alot. Like how it is we have free will to follow him when supposedly he is the only way into heaven.. How are people to know which religion is the RIGHT one. And if they choose the WRONG one they will go to hell.. Well what if they've never even heard of Christianity or Jesus.. Is that their fault? How can they be punished for that when they were never given the choice to believe it or not, there free will. I guess you just have to take that leap of faith. You have free will to listen and to notice when God is whispering. And you have free will to turn away. But then again how do u know when hes speaking or if its Satan... *sigh* The World May Never Know.. crying  

[moonlight2melody]

For the second question.. I think that is a very good question.. ^ ^ hmmm well I dont think God necessarly wants to control your life. He justs wants you to let HIM be apart of it. When you say controlling, that when people think "what does god want me to do" all the time. You should never always think only about what you want.. But have to want to do what god wants for you to do to actually do it.. Ok as if that makes any sense sweatdrop Honestly I think he just wants you to believe in Jesus Christ and try to be a "good person" Try to not always think about yourself. No ones perfect and if you realize that you can realize when you make a mistake and ask for forgiveness. *sigh* Im blabbering arent I whee Dont yell at me for that >.>  

[Lethkhar]

moonlight2melody

For the second question.. I think that is a very good question.. ^ ^ hmmm well I dont think God necessarly wants to control your life. He justs wants you to let HIM be apart of it. When you say controlling, that when people think "what does god want me to do" all the time. You should never always think only about what you want.. But have to want to do what god wants for you to do to actually do it.. Ok as if that makes any sense sweatdrop Honestly I think he just wants you to believe in Jesus Christ and try to be a "good person" Try to not always think about yourself. No ones perfect and if you realize that you can realize when you make a mistake and ask for forgiveness. *sigh* Im blabbering arent I whee Dont yell at me for that >.>

Your signature is sort of disturbing...Is that girl being raped?  

[Fushigi na Butterfly]

Those are two guys, Lethkhar. It's a banner for a yoai guild (which I personally don't support, but I'm not going to ask her to change her signature for the sake of this guild, since she's free to represent herself however she wants. -shrug-).