Key

Peace and bountiful blessings to you, as well.

Blessings and good cheer for you and yours this holiday season and for the year to come, everyone.

True. I think it isn't inconceivable that there is virtually no one who doesn't know or is related to someone who is gay, whether in or out of the closet. I can't help but wonder that the anti-gay stance originally came as a defiance to Rome which practiced tolerance, and in some way encouraged homosexuality. I have heard similar about Egypt in those times, but don't know for certain. So, maybe it became another way of setting themselves apart from the oppressive regimes?

I see it as each of us ministers have been drawn to a calling, if you will, making our temples to be ourselves. Even Christ had said, "My body is my temple." (Paraphrased, of course.) So, in this way, if we are true to our beliefs and how it serves others, then that is our role to perform. Each member is the church, a congregation is more like a convention of churches.

A noble effort. Dan56 is more than capable to handle issues himself, and many times the folks debating him in one thread, may back him up in another. He may seem to be attacked quite often, but his belief has been strong enough to withstand it and be more assertive, in my view. As for the beheadings, it is wrong to kill anyone just because their view of beliefs are different. The "jihadist" are killing everyone for having different views or even for the belief in having something they want. Most of their victims have been those who share their religion. They are really just the new Nazis. Reason enough for me to want them stopped before millions are killed simply because it's difficult for the world to fathom the idea of that level of atrocity, again.

One With Everything Ministries. Could shorten to Zen Ministries of Christ.

Guess we were both wrong, Dan, though we almost weren't so close to the end.

Unfortunately, to the Nazis, yes, this was true. But it also was untrue to the Allies! And, to the Bible, slavery was allowed, and children were prearranged to wed, sometimes to adults in those times. (Even now, in the Middle East.) As to God's Moral Standard, who's God? Yours, the Muslims, the Jews, the Druids? Did it really apply to all? Why were there differences between the jews and the gentiles? You know nothing of my worldview. I abhor slavery, murder, pedophilia and many other things. Shame on you for the assumptions! Ludicrous is that you can not see a point and therefore must argue that it is a position sinful to your beliefs. Inconsistent only in the views that one looks at it, just as the truth, as I explained. Awesome of you to pass judgement so rampantly!

Sorry, Dan. Think it will be the Packers. (Steelers fan, myself.) Blessings and Peace to all!

Morality isn't solely exclusive to the Bible, or religion for that matter. It is dependant on what society deems appropriate or mutually compliant.

So, therein lies your contradiction in faith. The Bible states that God doesn't lie, but men do, even by your own admission. Think on this...men wrote the Bible, God didn't. He only "inspired" it. Now, the question of truth? Who defines it? Men do, according to their own rationale. The human mind is capable of finding truth in anything and everything, while also finding falsehoods with everyone else who feels their truth is opposite. You may say the Bible is truth according to God, but so can a Muslim with the Koran, or the Hebrew with the Torah, or etc. etc. Also, as men often are of minds that change, so too, may the truth to them. There is no unchanging foundation.

Puzzling. Where does the question of appeal even come from? My point, you can not prove, nor disprove that the Bible was written by men with an agenda to put into motion. Nor can you prove, outside of faith, that the Bible was "authored" by God. Only those who did the original writing or dictation would know for certain. Therefore, submitting a quote from a questionable source does not provide concrete proof. You can quote from the National Enquirer, as someone else had mentioned, but that doesn't mean what was written was true, even though there are many who subscribe and believe it is so.

A spy on the world a thief stealing still moments some black and white (A camera)

You seem to discount that the Bible was written by men. It may have been "God" inspired, or it may have been to further an agenda, (for sake of devil's advocate in the latter). We may never know for certain, as we aren't the authors. You say that God authored the Bible, then quote it as proof? One can hardly use suspect evidence as proof for conviction beyond a shadow of a doubt. Without evidence, it's called faith. With, fact. Faith can not be both, unfortunately. I say I believe, but can't prove what I believe to be true. Still, it is true, if only to me.

Unfortunately for me, my kids are now old enough to want to be elsewhere and not much I can do about it. Just as well, for I'll be working late that night. Now I long for those times passed.

My heart saddens for your loss. My mind is comforted by the lack of suffering. My spirit wishes to give comfort and wisdom though I have none. My sincere condolences to you and yours.

Positive thoughts and condolences coming your way, Brother.

Um...the commandment "Thou shalt not kill" was not an order not to kill? Or perhaps it only applied to the Hebrews. Hmmm? Care to elaborate this one? I seem to recall something somewhere in the Bible that the Hebrews were ordered to eliminate a village or city, and specifically were told to kill everything therein: men, women, children, livestock, and crops. But they didn't. All were wicked? I somehow doubt that accusation.

My lady had worked for an in home hospice company for a few years, and had indicated it would and should be considered better than any communal hospice facility for many reasons, some of which you stated. You may have grounds, though I'm no lawyer, but it may be difficult to prove falsification of records, (charts, log ins, etc.). At the very least, you have assisted in the comfort and care in your loved one's current state. Truly, she is blessed with such a family. Thank you for the update. Well wishes and peace.

I had seen a brief mention of the now lost Book of Angels, which supposedly mentioned the fall from grace of a few Angels, one being named Lucifer, who became Satan. Lucifer then fancied himself a God for the underworld. Even so, whether God split Himself, or created an angel who then became fallen, it is still attributable that God had created the possibility of evil, it seems.

I can't accept this logic. You give this example and think it chaos and crazy, yet believe in a God who commanded not to kill and then ordered a genocide? I suppose you'd claim this was okay because those being killed offended God or were heathens. So, it'd be perfectly okay to kill those who believe differently. I can't wrap my head around this. Mayhaps this is the reason for my own walk towards enlightenment and don't feel any connection with any brand of christianity thus far, despite my past leanings.

Personally, I've seen Mormons proclaim to have received a miracle while at an evangelical festival, or from a Jew witnessing a Hindu event. I don't think a particular brand in faith is required to receive a holy spirit or a miracle from any God, but rather a strong belief and conviction to receive and possibly perform them. I believe my God would reach those in the best way that they can accept and understand, which crosses all faiths. Sorry, I don't have any recommendations for you at this time, as I'm still searching for answers, myself. Wish you well on your journey of discovery.

Are you implying that the insane or malevolent can not know order or beauty? Could they not use these to mask their true intentions?

When I view it from main page of the forum, it shows there are in the Open Pulpit a total of 546 topics, and exactly 59 replies. If one goes to a particular thread there it may show no replies and so many views, as you said. This made me curious as to where the replies were.