Songster
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Posts posted by Songster
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My prayers for Carolyn.... May God bless her and her's.
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5 hours ago, Jonathan H. B. Lobl said:
I don't trust it.
I've known a couple people that were atheists...
I've known more than a couple that said they were agnostic...
The vast majority of those folks were white males....
The Pew Center has a good reputation. Their analysis is consistently correct, and I have no doubt in the validity of their findings here.
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I just noticed that I have failed to thank all that have responded to my earlier plea..... Thanks for your kind thoughts and healing energies!
Again, thanks!
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To me, nothing compares to the "theater" experience, but I admit to spending 1/3 of my free-time in front of the tube....
I also spend more time viewing Netflix than any television station or cable channel, so $10/month divided by 50+ hours a month of viewing time (at MY convenience) is a heck of a bargain.
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An up-date on Dad's status...
Last Thursday, Dad was hospitalized after the flu he had developed into pneumonia.
Placed on a ventilator & under sedation, after 2 days, he seemed to be going from bad to worse.
Over the next couple days, several hundred people participated in both private and group prayer for his recovery.
Today, he has recovered 80% of his lung function, and was moved out of ICU and into a room.
I won't say the Docs don't deserve mention here... but when they say, "All you can do is pray.", I figure they're know where to turn for help.
Thanks all!
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I'd like to ask that those of you that might be so inclined to add my father to their prayers. His name is Andy, he's 86, in ICU with wildly fluctuating blood pressure, and being sedated so he doesn't rip tubes out....
Again, I appreciate your prayers...
Thanks.
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I missed this topic when it was originally posted back in August....
Having been blessed with an experience which allowed me an intimate knowledge and understanding of the personal presence of the eternal God, I'll share my thoughts on God "appearing" to humans...
As I am a Karmic Creationist, my understanding of the Divine and another's may differ, and we may also disagree on what shape, form, or fashion the Deity's physical manifestation might adopt for personal interaction. Whatever image donned or displayed, He would certainly appear in a manner best suited to convey the message the occasion required. Jews claim He appeared to Moses as a burning bush. Mohammed felt His presence behind a veil of blinding light. Christians assert He assumed the mantle of Man as the one known as Jesus. I see Him in everything......
In closing, I talk to God all the time....
But I found out that if you talk to God in public, people may look at you funny, so I try to keep my conversations with Him private.
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8 hours ago, Pastor Dave said:
"Heaven is nearness to Me and Hell is separation from Me." – Bahá'u'llah
To me, this best describes what Hell really is.... eternal separation from the Divine.
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I think distinctions need to be made-
There's a big difference between
- one unknowingly/unwittingly making a choice to act that accidentally yields undesirable results
and
- one making a conscious decision to act despite foreknowledge of the undesirable results.
In the former, Karmic debt may be mitigated.
But in the latter case.... there's no dodging culpability.
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6 hours ago, mererdog said:
The wording of a prayer oft-repeated has the power to shape faith.
I make a distinction between prayer (an expression of the soul offered up to God) and the mindless recitation of a string of words employed to indoctrinate people to a cause.
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A prayer's power lies not in the words, but in the faith of the supplicant...
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Prayers for him, and your family. God bless.
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If I were Buddhist...
I might take offense at an image of the Buddha being used as a hat-rack...
And I'd probably be pretty vocal about it.
I guess "funny" is in the eye of the beholder....
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On 11/7/2017 at 6:48 AM, VonNoble said:
The only thing about you that will live on forever is the kindness you have given.
Is that true?
von
From my perspective... Everything about that which is YOU has always existed (in one form or another) and always will. All acts, good or bad, are recorded in the Akashic Record and any act of love lives forever as a part of the harmonious vibrations that construct the etheric plane......
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Though not one of a church's primary functions, providing social interaction for adherents of all ages is beneficial for many reasons, the most obvious being that it strengthens the bonds of friendship/love among the congregation. Despite the fact that some have used the cover of religious authority to prey on the innocent, I still believe church activities are pleasant, positive experiences.
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4 hours ago, Dan56 said:
Lets just say that I don't interpret the teachings of Christ as pacifism. Turning the other cheek means not to return insult for insult in retaliation, that is tantamount to embracing evil by taking personal revenge for being insulted. Jesus denounced the Pharisees who attacked him and objected when he was struck by one of the officers of the high priest. He also advised his disciples to take measures to defend themselves. all of which conflict with the idea that Jesus was a pacifist. If we let everyone take advantage of us. turning the other cheek would become an encouragement for evil. I don't believe that is what Jesus had in mind, and it also conflicts with the law, which Jesus said he was not changing.
If that's what you got from the reading, either you have a reading comprehension problem or you've intentionally distorted the words to fit what you want them to say. God save the world from "Christians " like you...
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On 2/8/2017 at 2:08 AM, Dan56 said:
But your pacifism doesn't prevent you from being anyone's victim...
I'm a pacifist in the sense that I don't look to create enemies, but my pacifism ends when their fist meets my face, then my temper takes over (self-defense).
Really?
For one so well versed in the words of the Christ, you repeatedly appear to prefer to not only ignore His teachings, but seem to revel in doing the opposite of His will.
Maybe you skipped Matt. 5.....
In His sermon on the mount, He presented the world with words of wisdom and encouragement and advised us to refrain from the very human temptation to repay evil with evil.
When pressed into service to carry a burden for a mile, are we not directed to carry it two?
When stuck in violence on one cheek, are we not instructed to turn the other?
Are we not counseled to forgive our enemies?
Are we not admonished to live our lives in such a manner that our example may be as a light to guide others so that they may also give glory to God?
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Very interesting and informative! But as usual with me, a little knowledge leaves me thirsting for more...
This is the first I've ever heard of the ancients using a 10 day week...
Thanks for giving me something to research!
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1 hour ago, Jonathan H. B. Lobl said:
Really? If you believe that, you have a short memory.
Really? May be... May not.... Might be... Might not.... I don't recall....
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20 hours ago, Brother Kaman said:
Everything I have ever done, every decision I have made has led me where I am now. I am very happy with my life. I cannot regret anything that has brought me here. You may call me what you will.
In keeping with the theme here....
When I find that my actions or words may have caused offense to another (sometimes the realization is immediate, sometimes only after reflection and contemplation of the apparent consequence of the action) , I apologize as soon as I realize my offense.
With the utmost sincerity, I apologize.
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The more I this about this subject, the more I think that forgiving oneself may be the hardest to do....
Especially when one has "reasoned" his way into committing an act that would be regretted by any individual capable of honest self-analysis....
"The man that says he has lived his life with no regrets, is either a liar or a fool." - Me
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OK. If you prefer Luke.... Chapter 23, verse 34- "Father, forgive them. They know not what they do."
Those guilty of His death were ignorant of the enormity of their offense, were unrepentant, and yet they were FORGIVEN anyway.
The Christ did not say, "Ask me for forgiveness, and it will be granted."
He gave the guilty absolution without hesitation and without prerequisite pleas for forgiveness..
Shouldn't His example be followed by His followers?
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12 hours ago, Dan56 said:
..... forgiving someone who has done you wrong, and who intends to continue to do you harm, seems foolish to me, even dangerous.
Dan..... In your reading of the Bible, did you skip Matt. 18:21-22?
From the KJB....
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
The Christ's whole ministry was based upon the necessity of forgiving others...
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Is Forgiveness necessary? ABSOLUTELY!!!
My spiritual/religious beliefs are based on immutable universal laws, the two most important being the "Law of Karma" and the "Law of Forgiveness". Most people are familiar with the concept of Karma (stated simply as "What comes around, goes around.") but not all are aware of the dire consequences for their actions. Karma demands payment in kind ("an eye for and eye...") for any spiritual or physical offense against anyone or anything. A Karmic debt not only effects the offender, but binds the souls of the offended and offender together, and is carried beyond the bonds of this life into the next, and the next, and the next.... until the wrong is righted, or the offender forgiven. Only by the application of the Law of Forgiveness can the offender be pardoned and released him from the retribution demanded by the Law of Karma.
Is Forgiveness necessary? POSITIVELY!!!
Not just forgiveness for our own sins but (more importantly) forgiveness of others for their offenses against you.
Forgiving another person (for their sins against you) may be done for purely selfish reasons.... Forgiveness releases you from the Karmic bond that would otherwise require you both to deal with the unresolved issue in the next life. Finally, Forgiveness need not be sought to be given... A willful offender, ignorant of Karmic penalties, may not even regret their act. Forgive them anyway. For YOUR sake.
Hi again
in * Welcome - ULC Minister's Introduction Junction *
Posted
Welcome back!
May God continue to bless you...