Can problems consume the answers?

Doing everything God does is heavy lifting

When Jesus said we can only come to the Father if He, God, draws us, Jesus lost a lot of followers. This means that the idea everyone should be treated the same was just as firmly held among many in that day as it is in this day. 

It is not recorded that Jesus ever regretted His comment concerning this issue. The early Christians, the ones termed primitive Christians, formed a last day stand based on rather group-like attributes. But the only justification for it was born in the group convinced God would return any moment after Jesus's ascension. 

Decision for Christ

Christianity is based on decision making by each individual. So, we can by-pass this consideration and go to our goal of why Jesus said that one healed should go and sin no more. The parable of the ninety and nine underscores individuality right there.

But extending it to babies born joined together stretches me to explain why such responsibility is assigned to a time long forgotten by participants.

Does the fact we are all born in sin explain anything here? Well, based on this world our world of time, where change is illusory, I am not yet solid on this point. If one emphasizes collectively, that is rather than to individually, they could have trouble it seems to me. But it is even worse to think of it in the reverse. What a can of fish!

I am forced back into the position that if I do not understand it, I just have to accept that I've exhausted of my own chance for understanding and just hit the commentaries to see if there is anything there.

Smarty Pants

Then more likely, I am not any smarter now than I was all those times in the past when time and the flesh were wasting away at a truly fancy clip. This may be when the flashing green light of faith comes into play. What am I doing here anyway? Am I masquerading as smart as God, like one left totally alone, with just himself to be God? Maybe even smarter? Since it was tried before, would it have any different outcome this time? 

The tree of knowledge bears' strange fruit. First edited version.

Is sickness a sin?

The problem is, while I can see sickness as a sin to Jesus,where and what is the sin to those to he healed? Well, if illness is a sin, and that is logical, how do the sick get registered in the mix? Sins of the fathers? 

I have not gotten too far into this question yet. But I am writing this, objectifying it, so I can start somewhere to bring more clarity to the issue. I probably should start researching commentary on the subject if I can find it. Never found commentary sources very sharply to the point however.

Why dos sickness need to be a sin? Now I am just begging the question. Apparently we can have sins and sicknesses without being personally liable for them. Of course, we were born in sin. I wondered if that was not too easy.

Because atheism is forced to be its' own God, they do not accept responsibility for original sin. I never myself did at one time but, of course, the sins were there in abundance under my nose, so to speak. Took me a long time to see under my nose.

I hate it when I get cute.

Substance and evidence

The KJV is stronger than more recent translations as reflected in Hebrews 11 and also in 2nd Cor 4. Where the KJV speaks about substance and evidence, the later translations speak about assurances and convictions. Maybe I am a bit hasty thinking this, but I notice a certain vagueness in the newer translations. I am afraid this points to a somewhat softening of Christian belief. More, see Manna today.

Coming next

One way or the other

Angels are always with us

I am avoiding several issues that either bother me a great deal or some that do not seem to be able to stay on my radar. The biggest tough nut that I would like to wrestle with is, what are the implications of what Jesus meant when he healed someone, often said Go and sin no more? 

Then there are some dimples in my field of doubt that present very few problems if any, like the subject of angels. The interest is so great however that quite a few books have been written on the subject of angels.

So here goes. Angels are the ideas of God sent to assist or comfort those who are at risk or facing some difficulties. I am very appreciative of them on their watch but cannot add anything very high up on the interest ladder other than incidents. Incidents may interest many, but they all make a generally greater point than the activities of angels.

Angels are guiding lights and mostly personal in their direction. Did an angel guide my epiphany? Some believe angels open up a parking space when desperate, so perhaps angels, being agents of God in number like the stars in the sky, attend to an infinite multitude of our very real anxieties both great and small. 

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

See below

Sunday after thoughts.... 

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?

One never knows....

....When the Blow May Fall 

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.