tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838173868484267731.post2986504617382956722..comments2023-10-30T09:32:32.975-05:00Comments on Texas Word Tangle: the First Un-United Church of Flushable FaithRheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11027061380778030388noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838173868484267731.post-19776210681797002092009-01-17T17:33:00.000-06:002009-01-17T17:33:00.000-06:00People's answers are a dime a dozen. Please read t...People's answers are a dime a dozen. Please read the Bible with your questions in mind. SO many searching people have found answers there. From humans you can expect human error, but if GOD is telling me how it is, then I want to take HIM seriously. He would never lie. <BR/><BR/>When it comes right down to it, He's not sending anyone to hell. The only people who go there are the ones who choose to ignore the way to heaven that is Christ. Everyone makes that choice for one person only. Aren't you glad it's up to you and not your best enemy?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838173868484267731.post-16541902896117436512008-09-11T18:57:00.000-05:002008-09-11T18:57:00.000-05:00wow, you really went there, didn't you, Rhea? GREA...wow, you really went there, didn't you, Rhea? GREAT comments. Sign of a great post. I enjoyed Rick's and Karen's. Many of my blogger friends are LDS. I grew up EC (Easter/Christmas) and when I had kids I thought we should start going to church. But we are so often saying goodbye to our kids all week long, I couldn't bear saying goodbye (for Sunday School) yet another time. So now Sunday mornings are dedicated to family time. And that is our 'faith' at the moment. I think there's a higher power out there, and that it's common to all of us as a universe. That's why I try not to subscribe to anything dogmatic or specific. I see spirituality in daily life - beautiful sunsets, leaves quivering on a tree...OK, now I'm getting sappy but you get my drift. Thanks for stirring the pot. : )Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838173868484267731.post-23353444215796064612008-09-10T12:28:00.000-05:002008-09-10T12:28:00.000-05:00My family is Catholic. Well, most everyone is Cath...My family is Catholic. Well, most everyone is Catholic in Peru--little gift from the days of the Spanish Empire. But it wasn't strict. It wasn't like we ever talked about it. We went to church and confession and stuff, and that's just how it was. Then one day--I think I was seven or eight--Mother caught me staring at myself in the mirror.<BR/><BR/>I was obsessed with mirrors and myself. I couldn't believe that I had this body and could move it and do things. I couldn't get over it. I'd just stare and stare. <BR/><BR/>So my mother was going out and she chanced by this room at our house which had a Jacuzzi and mirrored walls and she was so disturbed by my apparent vanity that she saw no better way to scare me out of it than to say that if I didn't quit, Lucifer, the father of vanity would appear to me.<BR/><BR/>(I asked her later what possessed her to bring religion into it and she said she had no idea, but didn't it make perfect sense?)<BR/><BR/>Sadly for mother dear, I wasn't scared. I thought it was a brilliant idea. So I had my nanny do up my hair like Shirley Temple and I put on my best dress and as soon as Mother went out, I went to the mirror and called on Lucifer.<BR/><BR/>I figured God was very busy. But Lucifer probably had plenty of time to hang out. Plus he would understand my question because he was vain. My logic went something like this: when I make a picture and people tell me it's pretty, I am flattered. So why would God get His panties in a bunch if I appreciated His Creation, i.e., my body?<BR/><BR/>Lucifer did not show up. I was dragged to bed that night in hysterics. It was all lies! Lucifer didn't exist! <BR/><BR/>Having no evidence to the contrary, I concluded God didn't either.<BR/><BR/>I continued going to church, though. It's funny looking back--the church experience and the spiritual experience have always been divided in my mind.<BR/><BR/>When I was ten, we moved from Peru to Oceania. At thirteen, my mother met a woman who was very, very Catholic--in that scary way that seems to cripple young girls into hating their bodies and sexuality.<BR/><BR/>She undertook my sister's catechism. I became obsessed with God. I thought that if I could find Him, I could show everyone that this veiled self-hatred and shame this woman was teaching would be revealed as having absolutely nothing to do with God.<BR/><BR/>I looked and looked and looked. I studied Taoism, Wicca, Buddhism, Mormonism, Judaism, Catholicism, Humanism... From the Egyptian Book of the Dead to the St. Augustine, I read everything in my way. I even studied Koine Greek so I could translate the New Testament--I just couldn't trust that something hadn't been lost in translation.<BR/><BR/>I didn't find much of anything except the history of humanity and their constant abuse of the idea of deity to control others. Eventually I turned 16 and hormones navigated me toward a whole different obsession.<BR/><BR/>It wasn't until I was 24 that while living in the Andes for a month (working on a novel I never finished) that I found God. I can't really explain it. I had a dream and I was talking to myself. I said, "I am going to write a book about my life and every chapter will be like one of the books of the Bible. It makes sense, doesn't it? All my lovers had their names. Daniel--the false prophet!--and John and Thomas..."<BR/><BR/>And I said, "there's no Book of Thomas." <BR/><BR/>And she laughed and said, "oh, but there is."<BR/><BR/>So I went online and looked it up and OMG. In all my reading it never occurred to me to go outside the Canon. We're taught for so long that only some books are holy while others are not that it never even crossed my mind, though I knew the Catholic Bible is different from the King James Bible and the Greek Orthodox Bible.<BR/><BR/>I was up for three days reading the Nag Hammadi library texts. I'm filled.<BR/><BR/>I go to church now. But it still has nothing to do with God. Church is a human need to bond together, to make a society homogeneous. I go there to commune with the people of my life and to show them I want to be a part of them. It's entirely symbolic. <BR/><BR/>Is God there? <BR/><BR/><I>Jesus said, "If those who lead you say to you, 'See, the kingdom is in the sky,' then the birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will precede you. Rather, the kingdom is inside of you, and it is outside of you. When you come to know yourselves, then you will become known, and you will realize that it is you who are the sons of the living father. But if you will not know yourselves, you dwell in poverty and it is you who are that poverty."</I> [Thomas 1:3]AV Floxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14944160124701998429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838173868484267731.post-32722292122962034692008-09-10T01:06:00.000-05:002008-09-10T01:06:00.000-05:00Hmmm... I tend to avoid these. But I just LOVE th...Hmmm... I tend to avoid these. But I just LOVE that you put yourself out there, Rhea. You rock.<BR/><BR/>Well, either God exists or He doesn't. One camp is right and one camp is wrong.<BR/><BR/>You can choose to believe. If He exists, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.<BR/><BR/>You can choose not to believe. If He doesn't exist, you've got nothing to worry about.<BR/><BR/>But, if you choose not to believe and He indeed exists, you've got an awful lot to lose. Llluccccyyyy, you got some 'splainin' to dooooo!<BR/><BR/>That's the logical way to look at it, I suppose. Is it enough to believe only because of the end outcome? I say yes. At first, it's enough to start. Ya' gotta pick a camp to start anything.<BR/><BR/>I have a hard time understanding why good people, great, devout people "aren't allowed in". The truth is... probably 75% of the earth's population doesn't follow that religion's same belief. I find it hard to believe that 3 of 4 of us will be burning in fire and brimstone.<BR/><BR/>So... there in lies the dilemma. Even if you leap... even if you choose to believe... knowing to whom you should be listening is another BIG question.<BR/><BR/>There is a happy medium...<BR/><BR/>you can choose to believe but not be bound by the righteous right's inexplicable & arbitrary belief system.<BR/><BR/>From another vampire-loving, sleepin' in on Sunday, alternative-rock listenin' believer.Darcy @ m3bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00609223299545892479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838173868484267731.post-72172837883338238852008-09-10T00:46:00.000-05:002008-09-10T00:46:00.000-05:00You know Rhea. You have to go with what you feel ...You know Rhea. You have to go with what you feel comfortable with. What works for you.<BR/><BR/>I think that if you are good, and do good, and provide wonderful examples of how to be strong andhonorable and noble and honest people for your kids, then you are doing a wonderful job, no matter what you believe, or don't believe in.<BR/><BR/>Just my opinion mind you. :)Juleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04806397014770044851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838173868484267731.post-86194309460797333072008-09-09T22:36:00.000-05:002008-09-09T22:36:00.000-05:00Hi Rhea!I loved your post and comments! Yes, reli...Hi Rhea!<BR/>I loved your post and comments! Yes, religion is a complex thing. I do believe in organized religion because I just don't believe God would say, "Figure it out." We have one Bible and thousands of religions that come from the Bible. If you know the history of the Bible and organized religion you would know the Bible isn't a perfect book. I know some people would gasp at that - but do some history. Catholicism was the first organized church after the dark ages and the people/churches who disagreed with their doctrines are referred to as Protestants. Now it seems like there should be Protestant protestants! I think the most important thing is no matter what religion you belong to, we all need to follow an important scripture and that is "Judge not, lest ye be not judged." We should all have respect for one another because a Christian life is not easy to live no matter what religion you belong to. It's hard trying to be good or perfect all the time! People of other religions say that my religion or others are going to Hell because we don't believe the same way they do. If you don't hear their prayers or see their hearts, that's a pretty harsh judgement. You found Jesus on the toilet (I've found Satan there a few times-kidding) and I found Jesus on a school bus! I then added to my beliefs later on.Kristahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07870337424997944073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838173868484267731.post-9122324744398799582008-09-09T20:35:00.000-05:002008-09-09T20:35:00.000-05:00Wow, I have loved reading all these other posts. ...Wow, I have loved reading all these other posts. I love Lula's and The Pink Potpourri; they sum it up the best, in my opinion. Which is what this comment is all about, right?<BR/><BR/>I grew up without a church. An occasional VBS during the summer months with friends, but that's it. Never really knew what I was missing. Teased friends who went to church, saying I was a "good person", how was I going to go to Hell? <BR/><BR/>Fast forward to the age of 24. I am a critical care nurse, having my first baby. I see death at work every day. Believers and non-believers, doesn't matter, every body dies. But the difference in those that had faith in their unseen God to those who didn't was amazing. The peace they had in their faces and clearly in their hearts. It drew me close enough to question my stand on things of God. After my son was born, I was sitting in the church of my husband's family trying to listen to the sermon while admiring my precious baby. We were studying John 3:16..."For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life". And I tried to imagine giving up my sweet son to save a bunch of sinners. And I knew I would never have been able to do it. But the love God has for us is even greater than the love he has for his son, because he is our creator. The sacrifice of that love just took my breath away, and right there is when I began to believe.<BR/><BR/>I was always very intimidated by people who were "religious". When you meet Christians who are not good people, who are the biggest hypocrites you ever met, it so turns you off of religion. But you have to remember, all of us are equal in his sight. God is our father. No one is better than the next. Jesus is the bridge that takes us from sinner to saved. Yes, there are many questions we don't have the answers to.<BR/><BR/>We are like the kids in the backseat on the way to vacation, complaining all the way, "he's touching me, she's looking at me, how much longer", when all the while, God knows the plan for our lives, he knows the destination, and he has great things in store for us that we can't even fathom.<BR/><BR/>Wow, I didn't mean to be that long-winded. I hope these posts help you in your search. The fact that you are searching sounds like God is knocking on your door, asking you to let him in. Why not let him? What's it gonna hurt?Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10916853180728593287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838173868484267731.post-76104265875383740472008-09-09T19:44:00.000-05:002008-09-09T19:44:00.000-05:00I really wanted to comment on this and I thought a...I really wanted to comment on this and I thought about it a lot and I really don't know how to say it.<BR/>So here is goes, it is pretty simple (at least for me). I believe in God and I try to have a relationship with Him. We are just starting to go back to church, not that that makes you a Christian but that is a whole other ball of wax. <BR/>I keep an open mind about others and there beliefs. I think that there are many right ways to worship and have faith.<BR/>I also have faith, straight up, pure blind faith. I know that this is hard for some people but for me, I just believe.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10399156539354549499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838173868484267731.post-22239064526828512662008-09-09T18:44:00.000-05:002008-09-09T18:44:00.000-05:00Okay. so. Where to start?I was raised in the Catho...Okay. so. Where to start?<BR/><BR/>I was raised in the Catholic church and continue to practice Catholicsim but do not agree with all of the tenants of the church. Sometimes that makes me feel guilty, but I also feel like that my relationship with God is MY relationship. I stick with Catholicism because it is what I know and frankly, what I love. I appreciate all the traditions of the mass, and the yearly liturgy, etc. <BR/><BR/>Also, I sing at my church for mass, weddings and funerals and that brings me closer to God at those moments especially.<BR/><BR/>Faith is extremely hard to describe but I do believe. I mean I look at my children every day and just wonder how I ever couldn't... <BR/><BR/>Good luck on your journey.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01044279582701415786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838173868484267731.post-68998941276412762542008-09-09T15:53:00.000-05:002008-09-09T15:53:00.000-05:00Oh and btw...when I read 'Eat, Love, Pray' - I swe...Oh and btw...when I read 'Eat, Love, Pray' - I swear she stole my bathroom floor moment!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09542425639950850366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838173868484267731.post-28034676963372558302008-09-09T15:43:00.000-05:002008-09-09T15:43:00.000-05:00Rhea, I was made to go to church as a child and th...Rhea, I was made to go to church as a child and then I rebelled until I was 38yrs old. I was 3 yrs into my Long Distance Relationship with the now hubster and it was tearing us apart literally. Constant rows, deep feelings, many tears and breakups.<BR/><BR/>One night after yet another row and utter despair as what I should do with my life. I literally was on the floor of my bathroom crying, when I just said out loud "God please help me" and poured my heart out to that empty room.<BR/><BR/>I woke up the next day with a clear decision in my head, total peace and immediatley started making plans to move here permanently. When I got here I returned to church and took the hubster with me and have never lost faith again. Now I pray every night and I firmly believe it brings you peace in your soul and helps you through life.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09542425639950850366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838173868484267731.post-9934873155886976782008-09-09T14:58:00.000-05:002008-09-09T14:58:00.000-05:00Wow - there is so much to say here on this subject...Wow - there is so much to say here on this subject - but all I can think of right now is that you are not alone. I grew up Southern Baptist - in church every time the doors were open - but as I became a more learned person through college I began to question some of these things that I had blindly believed before. I think the church is a great place to raise a family for the community aspect but I also don't agree with many, MANY of their teachings. I had mentioned that I might like involving our family in church once we have children for these benefits but my husband says this doesn't make sense. If I don't believe it - I shouldn't teach it to my children. I just don't know. But I think he is right. There are other ways to raise 'good' children. It is a big issue but I feel confidant in what lies within my heart - my mom however is less than thrilled with this 'awakening'. I sometimes feel alone in the blogosphere because often I feel religion is a big part of the mom blogger world. I just try to ignore those religious posts of others and keep my blog religion free. But I really love that you have come out with this. Not all of us are religious, deal with it blogging world!!!Ashleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05813636271072744577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838173868484267731.post-74286044699227976762008-09-09T12:45:00.000-05:002008-09-09T12:45:00.000-05:00I think my Facebook page says it best, "My spiritu...I think my Facebook page says it best, "My spiritual beliefs are personal." This means they are not open to anyone's approval or dissaproval. <BR/>In general, most of my beliefs are based in a "Do no harm" philosophy (Wiccan) and Karma (Hindu). It is similar to the "do unto others" philosophy from Christian religions. <BR/>Organized religion is not for me. I realized this at a VERY young age.scargosunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14911826980781124597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838173868484267731.post-4979829115011426612008-09-09T07:56:00.000-05:002008-09-09T07:56:00.000-05:00Holy Crap Rhea!!! You've got heaps and heaps of re...Holy Crap Rhea!!! You've got heaps and heaps of readers!!! I'm sure your blogroll keeps growing and growing!<BR/><BR/>No wonder ya don't have time to visit me anymore! *snif snif*<BR/><BR/>Anyways.. just wanted to let you know that I've posted a piccy of my huge belly bump! if you'd like to see :-) xxUtter Basketcasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03175282733262292804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838173868484267731.post-57383704026559083152008-09-09T06:57:00.000-05:002008-09-09T06:57:00.000-05:00Ditto to Lula - "It's very easy for me to "blindly...Ditto to Lula - "It's very easy for me to "blindly" follow God...simply because I trust Him, and that's what it all boils down to. Faith, trust, belief"<BR/><BR/>I'm a Christian. It came easily to me because my parents are Christians. Following Christ was something I learned early. But I kept following even after I left home because .. well, He never led me wrong. I had no reason NOT to follow Him. I have never been alone because He's always there. I've never laid eyes on Him, never touched Him, or heard His voice but I have felt His presence and His guidance.<BR/><BR/>I'll never understand it all. Honestly, that makes me feel better. 'Cause there is an awful lot to know, and I think my head just might explode. So I trust Him because I know He knows. Like Lula said, it's all about the trust. It's not blindly following if you know the One you're following can see, and will pick you up when you bite the dust.Britthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14035187292596520177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838173868484267731.post-46294311692714798972008-09-09T05:05:00.000-05:002008-09-09T05:05:00.000-05:00Geez Rhea, you've had me thinking on this since la...Geez Rhea, you've had me thinking on this since last night and I still do not have anything to really respond with, lol Could you have posted anything deeper?! LOL<BR/><BR/>I know I believe in God. I know there is a heaven, I do have FAITH in that....but do I understand it all?! No.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838173868484267731.post-36576222915371161842008-09-09T00:11:00.000-05:002008-09-09T00:11:00.000-05:00Woooooooooooooo...a "religion" post. An...Woooooooooooooo...a "religion" post. And an honest one at that. Rock on, girl...you put yourself out there, and I respect & admire that. For real.<BR/><BR/>I am a Christian...it's no secret. I'm a believer in Jesus, plain and simple. I'm not close-minded, nor judgemental, and I despise evangelical "Christians" who give the rest of us a bad name. It's way uncool, man...I don't like my peeps to misrepresent.<BR/><BR/>Faith is hard...Hebrews 11:1 tells me, "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." I claim both these traits--I am certain of my future, without a doubt, and I am absolute in believing in what I cannot see or reach out and touch. It's very easy for me to "blindly" follow God...simply because I trust Him, and that's what it all boils down to. Faith, trust, belief...<BR/><BR/>So there ya go...a graduate of Jerry Falwell's university (no hating on me, please!) who loves Sci-Fi, vampires, moody music, and Jason Statham. Doggone it, am I well-roundedly random or what?Lula!https://www.blogger.com/profile/18341753113164178323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838173868484267731.post-1182179489700888542008-09-08T23:20:00.000-05:002008-09-08T23:20:00.000-05:00Ok, I wanted to say exactly what Tiffany just said...Ok, I wanted to say exactly what Tiffany just said! Well, pretty much, anyway.<BR/><BR/>I was raised a Lutheran... even went to a private Lutheran school up through 4th grade.<BR/><BR/>I, too, have a problem with saying people who don't believe in God are going to hell. We had a foreign exchange student from Japan... Izumi is a Buddhist. She is still in contact with my family, truly one of the sweetest people I've ever met in my life... this girl shared my home for a year, and you're ("you" being the Church) telling me she's going to hell just because she believes in a different god than I do? But then you say "God is love"... yeah, I never really jived with that.Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13655298574868899841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838173868484267731.post-67310548046514636372008-09-08T23:08:00.000-05:002008-09-08T23:08:00.000-05:00I am full of faith, but haven't found the right ch...I am full of faith, but haven't found the right church yet. God and I are figuring that out.<BR/><BR/>I have always "known" there was more. When my son came into that room out of my body, there was no question. <BR/><BR/> I always knew of God, but in that moment, I met him.<BR/><BR/>My problem with many churches is what you described.. saying that people who don't believe are going to hell. Can't buy that. The God I love loves us all.Tiffanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07635883243058872110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838173868484267731.post-54456987246316662662008-09-08T22:46:00.000-05:002008-09-08T22:46:00.000-05:00So, mosey on over to the blogs of the ladies who h...So, mosey on over to the blogs of the ladies who have heart babies or the ladies who have preemies or the guy whose wife died 24 hours after birthing the baby girl...they know way more about it than I do. I do know that it's real for me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838173868484267731.post-28779902001558680562008-09-08T22:05:00.000-05:002008-09-08T22:05:00.000-05:00Faith is the hope of things unseen.Faith is the hope of things unseen.Chatternesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13538972381819654097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838173868484267731.post-26359914657825244052008-09-08T21:44:00.000-05:002008-09-08T21:44:00.000-05:00Whoa. That is a deep question. I would have to t...Whoa. That is a deep question. I would have to think hard for a long time but I am way to tired from the day at home with the kids.<BR/><BR/>I believe that they will sleep through the night.<BR/><BR/>Ha. How is that? ;) You pose a lot of good questions here.OHmommyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12712111068636100187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838173868484267731.post-52151509044148755832008-09-08T20:46:00.000-05:002008-09-08T20:46:00.000-05:00Wow, this was some heavy shit, girl. I was brough...Wow, this was some heavy shit, girl. I was brought up Catholic but rarely go to church at all. I have a very strong faith in God though, and pray (talk to) God alllllllll the time. I've recently really been questioning the Catholic religion. One, why can't priests marry? Two, why the need for confession when I confess to God directly? Why should using birth control be a mortal sin? I've got millions of these questions, and keep telling myself that one Sunday I'm just going to choose a different church and go for the experience. But, being that I like to sleep in and not go anywhere until afternoon, I never do.<BR/><BR/>Justine :o )Justinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07011990752073017542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838173868484267731.post-39874053945300459812008-09-08T20:35:00.001-05:002008-09-08T20:35:00.001-05:00What Rick said is right on! I have great faith an...What Rick said is right on! <BR/><BR/>I have great faith and it is nowhere near blind! It is not something that I base on luck or just a fuzzy feeling. I can look around and see that this world could not be some random chance occurrence back in a puddle of primordial ooze. (by the way, were did the "ooze" come from???)<BR/><BR/>God does exist. And since he does exists, that demands that we were created with some sort of purpose. So I think your real search may not be to dispute the existence of God, but what is your purpose in this world?<BR/><BR/>So the question comes up..... How do I find God or know what He wants of me? The answer to that my friend is found in the bible. now before you right off the bible as "o yea that old book" you should check it out, as in read some, it just might change your life. it did mine.<BR/><BR/>I understand about the whole parents going to hell thing it sounds like a bad wrap, i'm sure they never killed anyone or did anything really bad, right. But heaven is a PERFECT place and no matter how hard we try, none of us, even as christians, can ever be PERFECT people. so we can't go to heaven by trying really hard, we just don't make the cut. BUT WAIT!!!!<BR/><BR/> this is where the bible tells us the coolest thing of all. God knowing that we couldn't make it on our own did something unthinkable, He sent Jesus to come and live the perfect life that we couldn't and die for us! this means that He paid the penalty for our sin! the bible says all we have to do is one thing.... have faith. <BR/><BR/>one final thought...you put your faith and trust in lots of things throughout the day...that your car will get you safely to work, that your lunch doesn't have food poisoning, or that the doctor knows what he's doing. with that thought, it doesn't seem as difficult to fathom putting Faith and trust in Jesus, in the One who created you, loves you, and knows you more than any human on earth :)<BR/><BR/>if you believe there is a God, there is a heaven. He wants you there. so he easily explains how to get to him through the bible. recognize that he is god and sent his son to the earth. know that you're a sinner, ask for his forgiveness and ask Him into your heart. its that easy. no strings attached. eternity is forever :) -Zack and AllieThe Pink Potpourrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12081497219603322190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838173868484267731.post-31564258324719038252008-09-08T20:35:00.000-05:002008-09-08T20:35:00.000-05:00What Rick said is right on! I have great faith an...What Rick said is right on! <BR/><BR/>I have great faith and it is nowhere near blind! It is not something that I base on luck or just a fuzzy feeling. I can look around and see that this world could not be some random chance occurrence back in a puddle of primordial ooze. (by the way, were did the "ooze" come from???)<BR/><BR/>God does exist. And since he does exists, that demands that we were created with some sort of purpose. So I think your real search may not be to dispute the existence of God, but what is your purpose in this world?<BR/><BR/>So the question comes up..... How do I find God or know what He wants of me? The answer to that my friend is found in the bible. now before you right off the bible as "o yea that old book" you should check it out, as in read some, it just might change your life. it did mine.<BR/><BR/>I understand about the whole parents going to hell thing it sounds like a bad wrap, i'm sure they never killed anyone or did anything really bad, right. But heaven is a PERFECT place and no matter how hard we try, none of us, even as christians, can ever be PERFECT people. so we can't go to heaven by trying really hard, we just don't make the cut. BUT WAIT!!!!<BR/><BR/> this is where the bible tells us the coolest thing of all. God knowing that we couldn't make it on our own did something unthinkable, He sent Jesus to come and live the perfect life that we couldn't and die for us! this means that He paid the penalty for our sin! the bible says all we have to do is one thing.... have faith. <BR/><BR/>one final thought...you put your faith and trust in lots of things throughout the day...that your car will get you safely to work, that your lunch doesn't have food poisoning, or that the doctor knows what he's doing. with that thought, it doesn't seem as difficult to fathom putting Faith and trust in Jesus, in the One who created you, loves you, and knows you more than any human on earth :)<BR/><BR/>if you believe there is a God, there is a heaven. He wants you there. so he easily explains how to get to him through the bible. recognize that he is god and sent his son to the earth. know that you're a sinner, ask for his forgiveness and ask Him into your heart. its that easy. no strings attached. eternity is forever :) -Zack and AllieThe Pink Potpourrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12081497219603322190noreply@blogger.com