Dan56

Understanding God is not an argument at all, the existence of God is an answer to our sense of wonderment about why we exist and everything we don't know. "My sense of god is my sense of wonder about the universe" (Albert Einstein). Only a person without hope doesn't care.. And the finality of death is a reason to care.

There's no explanation possible to establish or convince a person of the plausibility of God.. Consider that God is Spirit and exist in a dimension that is unseen and unknown by us.. In which case, what possible evidence or explanation would be plausible? There's no plausible explanation to define that which we can't conceive. I doubt anyone is convinced of God because they have intellectually understood His existence. Its just not something we can grasp, which is why God must be accepted by faith. If you saw the burning bush yourselves, and heard the voice of God, I doubt you would accept it because you couldn't explain it.

Actually, the Strong's Concordance to the KJV translates it as RabbiO said; "I will be what i will be (or become)"... Hayah means "existed" or "was" in Hebrew; "ehyeh" is the first person singular imperfect form and is usually translated in English Bibles as "I am" or "I will be". The ancient Hebrew of Exodus 3:14 " Ehyeh asher ehyeh ", lacks a future tense as modern English does, yet a few translations render this name as "I Will Be What I Will Be". Given the context of YHVH promising to be with His people through their future troubles, both the literal present-tense "I Am" and the future-tense "I wll be" might be applicable. For myself, I AM covers past, present, and future; "Which is, and Which was, and Which is to come" (Revelation 1:4)

There's no proof of a talking bush, only an explanation that the bush was not literally speaking, but that the voice was the spirit of God emanating from the bush.. Moses was either telling the truth or he found some magic mushrooms on that hill

So God's name in Exodus 3:14 is "I will be" (ehyeh), and not "I AM" (YHVH)? The second half of the verse says; "Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.".. It doesn't make sense if it reads "I WILL BE hath sent me unto you."? Perhaps "I AM" is a verb inclusive of past, present, and future tense? "I AM has sent me unto you" (present tense), Verse 15; "The LORD God of your fathers" (past tense), "this is my name for ever" (future tense). God is Alpha and Omega (Isaiah 44:6, Revelation 22:13), "I AM" comprises past, present, and future, while 'I will be' is limited to the future. As Jesus put it; "Before Abraham was, I am." (John 8:58).

There's no plausible explanation for God, He said from the burning bush; " I Am That I Am " (Exodus 3:14). From that perspective, everything that exist is a miracle. I see all of creation as a miracle, so a non-consuming burning bush is no more miraculous than anything I can see and understand. If you saw a bush growing on Mars, you might consider it a miracle because there is no plausible explanation of how that could happen. But that same bush growing on earth is nothing spectacular because we've excepted that things grow in the environment we're in and understand. There's no evidence for something beyond our understanding, we simply accept God from the evidence of creation, and believe "With God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26). Jesus told nonbelievers that the only evidence (sign) they would get was that after 3 days in the tomb, he would physically raise from the dead. No one could produce his body after 3 days, but the evidence did not suffice because there was no plausible explanation of how it could be so.. We accept God by faith because our limited understanding can't comprehend all that He is.

Nor is my inability to prove something, proof of somethings nonexistence.

Glad you made it through all that... Sometimes I complain about trivial things, but as they say; If you've got your health, everything else in life is frosting on the cake. Hope your ordeal is over and your back in good health.

If a person drifts from belief to belief, they are in a continual search for answers, and aren't yet satisfied. When you find what your looking for, there's no reason to constantly change what you believe. " Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. " (Hebrews 13:8). I never sought a belief that suited my world view, I needed something far beyond that.

Hemp oil is also used for medicinal purposes.. Morgan Freeman swears its the best thing he's found for his fibromyalgia pain.. Its high in the omega-3 to 6 oils, helps joint pain, insomnia, etc.. I just ordered a 4 oz bottle on eBay for $6.88 to see if it does anything.. I suspect its all hype, but a girl I know said she got her Dad some because he was taking strong opiates for his cancer pain, but after a few drops of hemp oil, his swelling went down and the pain subsided, no more fentanyl .

No, I don't see it.... Probably because I myself would not be antagonized by the truth. Consider this quick example, Jonathan asked; "Pretend, for the sake of argument, that God exists. What changes? Nothing". My answer; "If God exist, it changes everything, it means that a Supreme Being created us, is in charge, and controls our destiny after death". His response; "Such wonderful consistency. You'll never change". That's why I wrote; "Someone who had no answer and got all frizzled". I think it was obvious that he was getting all flustered, e.g; "I can't do it any more. I'm worn out with this nonsense. The wind has gone out of my sail". So I'll leave it alone now, just wanted to answer your question.

Probably true, but I observed that a person was getting agitated over a non-existent argument, so it was my intention to try and calm those intense feelings down, not to incite antagonism. Remember, I simply gave my opinion of apatheism, and in response I got; "What I got from you was a mixture of smugness, superiority, and lack of respect". That's not a discussion or disagreement, its a response from someone who had no answer and got all frizzled.. I don't get it, but Its his topic, so I'll step out of this thread and leave it to those who care about not caring.

Correct.... It wasn't my intent to insinuate anything else.. I was just expressing my biblical view, but you certainly have every right to exercise your traditions.

Thank you That's good, because no one was arguing with you... Sometimes you just get all agitated and worked-up over nothing and end up feeling frazzled. "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5)

Doesn't the bible teach that we aren’t suppose to worship or pray to angels? Consider Revelation 22: 8-9; "I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, "Don't do that! I am a fellow servant". Christ is our High Priest and Intercessor, and he asked us to pray to God in his name. Just something to think about.

Nonsense, you simply got disagreement... Because someone doesn't agree with you doesn't make them smug, because they have a different belief doesn't make them superior, and because they don't accept your pov isn't disrespectful. Atheism is not believing in any deity, Agnosticism is not knowing if God exist... How did I redefine something so simple? And "Not Caring" is a simple concept to understand, its what a person says when they don't care. You understand, you just don't believe. What did you expect to get from expressing your opinion? They are just discussions, some interesting and some not. You don't need to do anything, and your under no pressure to change anyone's mind .. Some people care and others don't. I disagree.. Surprised? If God exist, it changes everything, it means that a Supreme Being created us, is in charge, and controls our destiny after death. Without any facts that you've chosen to accept... But as I've stated repeatedly, there 's a written record witnessed by many people, there's archaeological discoveries, fulfilled prophetic evidence, etc... This is all enough to inspire many to believe. Its just my opinion that searching and believing about the unknown is beneficial. Curiosity and hope are inherent in the human psyche, turning that sense of wonderment off (don't care) seems to leave a person dead in the water.

It just seems like a sad way to go through life. I don't believe is understandable, I don't know is understandable, but I don't care is irresponsible.. Being apathetical towards anything is negative, its not an opinion, its just approaching life with a "I don't give a damn" attitude, and I don't see how that's beneficial to anyone.

The bible tolerates evil, and occasionally uses evil to bring about a greater good, but if you read the final chapters, evil does not come along, its ultimately destroyed.

Just sounds like an Agnostic with an attitude to me .

Maybe the temporary ban is just their way of letting us know that we need an occasional attitude adjustment?

Its true, Adam lived 930 years, Terah lived 205 years, which would have made Abraham about 135 years old when his father Terah died.. Excellent math, but no contradiction. "And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?" This to me is just saying that God makes all people, including those who for whatever reason happen to be deaf, mute, or blind.. In the preceding verse, Moses complained to God; “I am slow of speech and tongue”. Perhaps he had some speech impediment or stuttered? So God is essentially telling him in verses 11 &12 that He made all mouths, and that He would help him speak. That said, physical ailments are a part of the death-dealing curse we inherited from Adam (Genesis 3:19), but God didn't originally create anything defective. Sickness, disabilities, and ailments in any form are part of the corruption that we chose, and the random evil that falls on us is the result or sin. We now exist in a fallen corrupt world, not the original good one God created. Moses later wrote; “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he” (Deuteronomy 32:4).

So if your child screwed-up, you would not be pleased, but if a child of God messes up, He's suppose to be happy about it? Hmm Its possible, but only by removing free choice, and God has chosen not to do that. You can't force love, and if you did, it wouldn't be genuine. In a sense, God has helped everyone by removing the curse of sin via Christ, whereby all are worthy of salvation. But an all powerful God has decided not to accept those who reject Him. So its not a matter of God "cannot do", but rather what God has chosen 'not to do'. What people choose to do and believe emanates from within themselves. We are independent spirits and we're created to make independent decisions. God was pleased when He created us, but not with what we decided to do. That ought to be a simple concept to grasp. God assigns fault towards our disobedience, not the fact that he created us.

If you had a healthy baby with your wife, you would likely be pleased with the child you created.. Later, the good child you produced goes out and robs a bank and kills a bank teller in the process. You are obviously displeased with what your child had done and regret what he had become. So you were pleased and then displeased with the child you created. Does that define you as a walking contradiction? I have an answer to this, but I'm relatively positive it would not be satisfactory, so no need to explain it. That would be true if we were all robots and prohibited from exercising free will.. The only fault with creation was sin, and evil is the result of sin. People are imperfect because we chose to be imperfect, I find no fault with creation, nor do I blame the creator for that. Its not always possible to help someone who doesn't want to be helped. If I had the power to help everyone like God has, I would not feel guilty for those who would not be helped. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" (Matthew 23:37)

Not when taken in context of what's written.. Your correct with Numbers 23: 19-20, "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it." This is speaking of God's immutable purpose, God's nature is unchangeable and His word irreversible. But in Genesis 6:6, God is not repenting of himself, of creation, or anything He had done. God repented of what man had done, the wickedness of man is what He was sorrowful about.

I've noticed the same thing.... I tried to post 2 messages Friday and Saturday, but the site just froze up and my post were lost.. Sunday, this site wouldn't load at all for me... Its the only site that's screwing up, so I know its not my PC.. I'm even a little surprised it loaded for me this time! Now lets see if it will accept my post?