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victoro are you sure about the tooth fairy? is there nothing left for me to believe in ?

My parents taught me how to be a good moral person with logic, not threats of burning in a Hell, promises of everlasting life or brainwashing. They exposed me to religion but let me make my own decisions about religion. I'd heard enough in Bible school and sermons age 6 to figure out if I wanted nothing to do with any religion but it was forced on me by many adults (not my family). I remember being forced to lead a morning prayer in my 6th grade class and this same teacher asked each of her students what church their parents attended. She was probably one of your "enlightened" ancestors.

I believe in Jesus and I'll tell you about.. it once because the good book commands that, when the right situation dictates, of course. But if you don't respond in kind, I'll not do it again, because I figure if I planted the seed and the soil was fertile it will grow without me cultivating further.

There's been too many things happen where it could have gone either way but went my way when I prayed unselfishly and faithfully. You may think me a fool for believing it. But when it comes down to it, I don't really give a hoot what you think. If that were true and I'm a fool then so was Washington, Jefferson, Davy Crockett, Sam Houston and a whole unending list of great men and women who would have to be fools too and I don't think that's the case. I've known a few Episcopal Priests and they all had a minimum of a Master's Degree in something. One was a Phantom Pilot in Vietnam, another was a retired Airforce lifer officer who had a second career as a chemical engineer for a prominent company so I figure if people of that caliber can believe in the Holy Spirit I'm not too good for it. Anyway, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

Oh yeah and I need to add this, if you don't believe and I do, if I'm wrong it's really no big deal, but if you're wrong, Hmmm...well I'll leave that with you.

I've known a few Episcopal Priests and they all had a minimum of a Master's Degree in something. One was a Phantom Pilot in Vietnam, another was a retired Airforce lifer officer who had a second career as a chemical engineer for a prominent company so I figure if people of that caliber can believe in the Holy Spirit I'm not too good for it.

Over 40 years ago I prayed as hard as I knew how for the life of a small child who was my grandson.
That didn't work out and I have learned to accept that.
What was worse was the feeling I came away with that there was Nobody on the other end of the line.

Tried it again about 20 years later for a parent who was suffering and was ready to go.
That same feeling came back; loud and clear.

.... We as Christians want to tell others about the good news...

...If you knew that your child was heading for danger would you not warn him because of your love and foreknowledge?

David had a very strong assurance of the presence God.

I have a late Uncle who was a gifted man intellectually. Had a mind like a roach motel.......facts got in but they never got out! He held a PHD in Chemistry and went on to a significant career in the petroleum industry. Although raised in the Baptist Church, when young and fresh out of grad school he set out to disprove Christianity in the hope of saving his family and friends from a lifetime of intellectual slavery to antiquated superstition. According to him, he really got after it, delving into the Greek and Hebrew, the whole 9 yards.....looking for something to support his ideas. Keep in mind this would have been the late 1940's or early 50's.....no internet or anything. Had to go to the library or buy reference books, whatever. That is the way this man was....when he got onto something he was like a bulldog.

Guess what? He messed around and got saved, and went on to be one of the strongest believers I have ever known....purely from his own research despite having started out with his mind all but made up in the other direction. He went on to start Bible study groups, churches, and helped lead hundreds of people to Christ......in his spare time. He was one of my many great mentors and role models.

I have to say that having experienceHfetime as a believer, seeing saved people that had everything against them that should have been lost if circumstances counted, as well as people raised by godly parents who went to church as I did and blew
it all off........ I've all but come to the conclusion that it ain't us that does the choosing......we just think we are doing it.

Below quoted from evidence demands a reason by Josh McDowell

Isn’t the Old Testament God a God of Hate and the New Testament God a God of Love?

Another of the frequent accusations against the Bible is that it contains two different conceptions of God.

The Old Testament allegedly presents only a God of wrath, while the New Testament allegedly depicts only a God of love.

The Old Testament contains stories of God’s commanding the destruction ofSodom, the annihilation of the Canaanites, and many other stories of God’s judgment and wrath. The accusers claim this demonstrates a primitive, warlike deity in contradistinction to the advanced teachings of Jesus to love one another and to turn the other cheek, as contained in the Sermon on the Mount.

These ideas about God seem to be in direct conflict, but a moment’s reflection will show otherwise.

Jesus Himself declared that the Old Testament may be summed up by the commandments to love God and love your neighbor (Matthew 22:37). He also observed that God in the Old Testament had continually desired love and mercy rather than sacrifice (Matthew 9:13; 12:7).

This attitude can be seen with statements such as, “Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked… and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?” (Ezekiel 18:23, RSV).

God would not have destroyed certain nations except that He is a God of justice and their evil could not go unchecked and condoned.

He did intend and desire to punish them as a part of His plan, in consistency with His holy nature and jealousy for His wayfaring people. What He desires in consistency with His pure character, He does in justice, in their case, providing they have not repented and come into harmony with His nature (Jeremiah 18).

In the case of the Amorites, God gave them hundreds of years to repent, yet they did not (Genesis 15:16). Noah preached 120 years to his generation before the great flood (Genesis 6:3). The proper Old Testament picture is one of a very patient God who gives these people untold opportunities to repent and come into harmony with Him, and only when they continually refuse does He judge and punish them for their evil deeds.

Contrary to some popular belief, the strongest statements of judgment and wrath in the Bible were made by the Lord Jesus Himself.

In Matthew 23, for example, He lashed out at the religious leaders of His day, calling them hypocrites and false leaders, and informing them that their destiny was eternal banishment from God’s presence.

In Matthew 10:34 (KJV), Jesus says that the purpose of His mission is not to unite but to divide. “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.” He goes on to say that His word will cause a father to be against his son, a mother against her daughter, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law (Matthew 10:35).

We find judgment as well as love scattered very pervasively throughout the New Testament, and love and mercy as well as judgment throughout the Old Testament.

God is consistent and unchanging, but different situations call for different emphases. Therefore, when the two testaments are read the way they were intended, they reveal the same holy God who is rich in mercy, but who will not let sin go unpunished.

Oh yeah and I need to add this, if you don't believe and I do, if I'm wrong it's really no big deal, but if you're wrong, Hmmm...well I'll leave that with you.

JW's and mormons are a large % but have had fanatics of all christian denominations pester me. "born agains" are the absolute worst. Jew's never seem to pester me yet they are the most persecuted I find that odd. Maybe I'll put my JW encounter from last week up later if anyone wants to hear it.

TF49 Thanks for proving my point. I'm sure you don't even realize it.

JW's and mormons are a large % but have had fanatics of all christian denominations pester me. "born agains" are the absolute worst. Jew's never seem to pester me yet they are the most persecuted I find that odd. Maybe I'll put my JW encounter from last week up later if anyone wants to hear it.