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Anything said once can be said again in a better fashion. Everything said today can be better clarified tomorrow All entries are under constant editing and can be changed or expanded anytime. All views are dated, and are works in progress reflective during the expressed time frame only. This blog emphasizes issues ..., not personalities. Except for the On Line Bible, included for convenience, this site is portal to other Sunset Stroller sites linked below....

PURPOSE OF THIS BLOG IS TO DEFINE GOD THE WAY GOD DEFINED HIMSELF.
God is Existence. Exodus 3:14 "I am that I am." This is the name God told Moses He wants to be known by this name forever "into all generations."
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Friday, 3 June 2022

Angels are wating

Locked in Logic 

My atheistic mantra while in college said that since the New Testament does not agree, but is contrary to itself, that this proved it was not likely true. But if the New Testament does in fact have no contradictions, then that means it is likely not true also I subsequently discovered. My suspicion should have been aroused.

The first conclusion indicates contrary views, and the second conclusion indicates the other side of the coin, collusion. Since it looked like the fix was in, to get out of that foxy box, I had to eventually break out of the other round box.... later. 

Thursday, 2 June 2022

Wondering about it all


Slippery Details

On quite a few occasions similar questions have randomingly occurred to me.

What in the world is God showing me now? Why did God let me see that? Or, whatever does some particular event mean? It is curious because I never seem to figure out any memorable answers. They are like little epiphanies slipping, dreamlike, in and away from my attention.

I have been embarrassingly slow attending the significant, and questioningly persistent with vague instances. An example recently has been angels looking out for me. I have never thought a great deal about angels. A lot of people think a lot about them. An aunt and uncle, long passed now, believed they saw angels guarding them. 

I saw it all then as a "down my nose myth" for my old people playbook I was following at the time. It was to my view that this was to protect them from the apprehensions of their advancing age. Condescension 101 fades, as I found like many, if we make it far enough.

Anyway, in order to figure things out I always like to divide my groupings in two. So, in this instance, I proposed those who like to do things and connected along a continuum, those who like to think things. I might call them desk people.

I could use some help, from time to time, from the doers. So again, I was wondering if this was all that fair to the doers. But they like doing things, accomplishing solid results, and they have justifiable pride in their finished goals. At least they do from my maturing perspective in any event.

But what about a minister who, I suddenly find, is confessing all his short comings to me? What can I do with that? Why is he taking over the conversation like this? I am well aware of listening for motives emphasizing details. Does, then, everything have to have a purpose? I suspect there are many purposes that I do not have enough information for me to understand. 

Maybe Heminway was right. When he wrote, I understand he felt, it was just as important, perhaps more so, that what was left out was more important than what was left in. Therefore, I guess, from that I can conclude the question is as important as the answer? Maybe God is nudging me along? (These slippery topics never stop trickling along and along.) Tomorrow maybe angels, maybe not.

Tuesday, 31 May 2022

A top quote of all time

Ingrid Bergman is given credit for two good quotes which puts her on my great quotes list. Quotes are notoriously misattributed, and Dale Carnegie is also credited. However, I go by the first time I heard it, and I think this is a greatest quote. I believe it goes like this:

Success is getting what you want, and happiness is wanting what you get.

I wish good success to everyone and hope it turns out all right for them, even though I for the life of me, cannot figure out why anyone would want it. I only hope they will be happy with it. It is only that I do not see how. 

The atheist view seems, ground down sure, to be a tough spot to be in, that is if they are correct about there being no existence for God. What if God does not exist? What a pickle I am in! In order to experience no existence, there has to be an existence to experience it.

That means being my being aware there is no existence of God. But to be outside existence and being simultaneous aware of it, indicates a void that does not change. Anything repetitive is prison like boring and guaranteed to drive one crazy, as we presently observe prisoners eventually do in solitary confinement.  

Over and over? Reminds me of virtual reincarnation. My spirit will want something new, like an expanding universe I imagine. No one has any hint of all the good things the Spirit of God has waiting for those who are, reborn, in the spirit. There is now, and always will be, something new and that is more Existence. Yes, the universe she is expanding. alright.

Monday, 30 May 2022

At least I am not the only one

 


When I was young, I knew everything. It was easy when I was young because when I knew everything, there was not much to know. Now that I know how much there really is to know, it is easier to realize who does know everything. 

Saturday, 28 May 2022

Unresolved question for logic

Between Logic and Faith

Logic cannot resolve every question I have, largely because the conclusions of proof simply cannot do it. Well, maybe it assumes it can do it, but I cannot be sure. This is because I never seem to have all the facts. 

I never will have all the facts because, the more facts I uncover, I only learn that there are even more questions I do not know. If
I do not even have the questions, there is even less chance I can figure out the answers. So much for physical science and Gertrude Stein.

But what do I do with questions? Is ignorance an excuse for anyone who cannot understand there is a spirit as well as a mind of the flesh? Atheism cannot figure it out. Atheism wants everyone to get the same cookie cutter deal. 

Sunday: 6:30am

Climbing Up Another Way?

Jesus said God had to draw people to Him, then their decision. He also said there are sheep not of His pasture. Atheism cannot deal with that. The only way I can deal with it is to rely entirely on a decision rooted in faith. If that does not satisfy me then I will just have to be my own God and let it go at that? I'll just have to choose faith and believe it. If my body cannot make it, then faith in the spirit, and my spirit, is my only choice.

But then, what does that say about me? Or, as mentioned in the Bible, will I have to take heaven by force?

Wednesday, 25 May 2022

Playing Church at

Pulpit Rock

If one of us is killed in a tornado, then God did it. If we pray to God to heal us and He does not do it, we say that God did it. When we see war and plaques strike us, then who did it? Who else? Suffering? The devil?  God created the devil also. He is Sovreign. He is in control.

These are all loose Christian views one can find dancing around in many churches. God can do anything. What does that mean then, that God can lie, God can change His mind? I was told that by no less than a pastor, who is the teaching shepherd of the church.

If someone leaves the church, who goes after them? Jesus answered that one in a parable. I've heard many sermons that maintained if you were saved, it was a wonderful experience. Almost immediately after that sermon came the one saying don't think it will be wonderful after being saved. No further explanation on that one.

As children we played church on a huge rock that featured a podium and a choir loft. Just like the adults. The problem is not with God, it is with ourselves. It is called Pulpit Talk at Pulpit Rock.

Tuesday, 24 May 2022

Beyond reason

Changing our mind 

Yesterday's Magic = Today's 

Physical Science

Voltaire matched faith with reason. But what is reason? It is merely what we think we know already. I think reason would be logic. But something can be logical by all appearances and be not. Reason is just the catalyst pointing in a particular direction under a respected sense of reason at a particular time. 

Point I am making is that each of us, to illustrate, are like a small planet looking at a larger planet, all have a different view from a particular orbit. However, examples or illustrations do not prove anything by themselves. 

In point of fact, we only have a limited amount of information we believe to be true at any one time. As often as not, information is eventually expanded with newly arrived knowledge, with the unexpectant introduction of say, telescopes.

We can only prove anything each to our own particular satisfaction. No one can prove anything except to their own satisfaction and a particular set of reasons that evolve out of date, in time. When will we ever know? Now, here we are, matching wits with God. Who is God? God is a Spirit and if He is sitting across the table from us, our tails are wagging.

Monday, 23 May 2022

uncertainites

End Times Rehearsal?

Looks like folks are quite unsettled about everything. There is not one area not bubbling over like a pond of oatmeal in the Grand Canyon, that symbol of bygone terror that turned the entire country into a mouth of giant volcano. 

If the Grand Canyon goes up it would not surprise these times. The Rockies are one side of the lip and Appalachia is on the other. Talk is it is waiting to go but if there were ever a time this would have to be it, it seems to me. 

Sunday, 22 May 2022

In my view

God is not a man that He should lie 

Heard the atheist view creeping tip toe int the creationist view on the radio recently. Seems a creations advocate thought the backing of the scientific method proved creationism was the way to go. Not to God's liking I would say.

I've heard that God changes His mind as well. The pastor I was listening to was misled, but he had it right from the seminary.  

Then there is "God is in control". He is sovereign, etc. There the church people tagged God with the devil, suffering, and all sorts of other evil in the world.

The more sophisticated atheistic view maintains that Moses talked God into changing His mind. Not so. His mind was and reamined made up but Moses talked Him into holding off His judgment. He relented but His judgment was the same, only held off. 

How easily some can get themselves fuzzed up without logic.

Friday, 20 May 2022

Way I see it

Closing Gaps

When Jesus is referred to as the only begotten Son, it carries the sense that He is the only Son. The "begotten" is, in the gap, easily skipped. I close gaps all the time. It comes, I would say, from my reading too fast in my case. I also type the same way. I leave usually small connecting words out and have to careful to edit them back in later.

But, back to the main point, this habit of mine gives me the sense Jesus is the only Son. But not the case, He has the power to make any of us, a son of God or daughter of God. I wish to emphasize the word power. If He is giving us power then that should not be glossed over.

Jesus even said we would do greater things than He Himself. That is quite a statement. Somewhat scary if you ask me. I do not quite feel up to it and it causes me some concern. Time is short for me to reach such a lofty position.