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Post by susanmarie on Jul 20, 2007 10:10:55 GMT -5
Have you ever wondered why God left us the Bible for instructions on how we should live day day and everyone has a different understanding of it? I worry so much that I may be doing something wrong and don't even realize it. I try to read for understanding, but have a different understanding than even my husband? How does God exactly want us to live? Any comments?
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Post by Heres some ideas on Jul 20, 2007 10:17:13 GMT -5
You cannot go wrong by loving yourself----and then loving your neighbor as yourself. You cannot go wrong when you live with respect for oneself and respect for anyone you meet.
The rules and regulations of what other people want of you doesn't matter. What matter is this: are you feeling joy as you traverse through you life? Are you sharing this joy with others? When all is said and done, it will be the love in your heart towards yourself and your fellow man that matters.
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Post by mrleo on Jul 20, 2007 10:17:23 GMT -5
How about the Golden Rule? That's a reasonably good way to live. See above!
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Post by las logged out on Jul 20, 2007 10:26:58 GMT -5
Have you ever wondered why God left us the Bible for instructions on how we should live day day and everyone has a different understanding of it? I worry so much that I may be doing something wrong and don't even realize it. I try to read for understanding, but have a different understanding than even my husband? How does God exactly want us to live? Any comments? I agree with you
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Post by Gene on Jul 20, 2007 12:48:22 GMT -5
Have you ever wondered whether God left us the Bible or the Koran?
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Post by Someone on Jul 20, 2007 14:23:36 GMT -5
Yes, I've wondered this and came to the obvious conclusion that both were books written by man's hands. They have authors who lived in fleshly bodies.
When you see a mystical hand form out of the air and write a book, please let me know. This would be a miracle...
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Post by more questions on Jul 20, 2007 14:35:56 GMT -5
Have you ever wondered why God left us the Bible for instructions on how we should live day day and everyone has a different understanding of it? I worry so much that I may be doing something wrong and don't even realize it. I try to read for understanding, but have a different understanding than even my husband? How does God exactly want us to live? Any comments? Right, why would God put His word out there just to have the possibility of it being changed and warped by each individual interpretation? Why are there sooooo many different churches claiming they preach the correct word? They cant all preach the whole and absolute truth. They may all have some truth, but not all the truth. I cant accept that they are all there because we all have different personalities and worhip differently. What about what God wants from us? Not what we want from God?
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Post by as I c it on Jul 20, 2007 14:55:39 GMT -5
Someone,
When you see men who are completely willing (of THEIR OWN FREE WILL) to not only admit to their sins--but to also put it in writing--and then--send it out to their religious friends (and be known--"by all")....then--you HAVE witnessed "a miracle".
A miracle of the Holy Spirit--which has overcome our own prideful nature.
Also: have you ever noticed that this planet just runs itself. (All by itself--and without the aid of man).
Have you ever considered how much knowledge (and power) it took--to not only bring everything into existence, but--to also coordinate it--so that all things that are in existence (to do with the planet itself) works together--properly--to keep it functioning as it does???
If man can use his "power" and his "will" to overcome other human beings (or animals) in order to get them to do HIS will--then--
Why would you find it so impossible to believe that the God who created all things could use His power (and His will) to get a mere human being to do His??? (And write His word--as He wished to have it recorded?)
I've never read the Koran: but I believe the Bible is God's word--and that this world is full of "miracles" that show us (if we but had the eyes to see)...just how powerful (and great) God is!
And the only real reason that we can't see it--is because--in our human form: and with our human limitations--it's just all beyond our ability to comprehend--to any large degree--who God is (and His abilities).
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Post by God Also left Us on Jul 20, 2007 16:27:02 GMT -5
Have you ever wondered whether God left us the Bible or the Koran? The Celestine Prophecies
Harry Potter
And of course The Secret Sect
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Post by Someone on Jul 20, 2007 16:56:06 GMT -5
as i c it,
I didn't expect such a volitile reaction. The point I was making is this: All books that are on the planet came through someone's hands.... they all have physical authors. Now if you want to believe God inspired.... then you can do this.
When a man (or woman) writes, it has their personality/egos in it to some degree.
Maybe that's why there are so many different interpretations and ideas about what things mean in any books, not just the Bible. Everyone has a different perspective on what is divinely inspired and what is not.
Men write books.... man makes mistakes....man sees things through a glass darkly......... man makes rules....
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Post by as i c it on Jul 20, 2007 17:30:26 GMT -5
Someone, Did you mean "volatile" reaction? (If so, I always thought that word had something to do with an explosive reaction--but--nope--according to the dictionary I just checked out, the word means: "readily diffusible in the atmosphere; flighty; airy; fickle; fugitive"). Nothing to do with "explosive" there...(and if my posting came across as hotheaded in any way, then, I apologize). There was no such emotion in me--nor intended to go toward you. Of course, if you meant "airy"...well, we were talking about spiritual things and you can't get much more "airyier" than that!! Anyways, I agree with you--and your statement that a writer's personality always comes through in their writings. And that it's often because of that personality (and perhaps training and perspective) that different interpretations can take place. Luke, for example, being a Dr, no doubt noticed things that the other disciples (not being one) wouldn't have noticed. Or maybe not quite the same way.
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Post by Jessi on Jul 20, 2007 18:12:31 GMT -5
Yes, I've wondered this and came to the obvious conclusion that both were books written by man's hands. They have authors who lived in fleshly bodies. When you see a mystical hand form out of the air and write a book, please let me know. This would be a miracle... Moses saw it. Deuteronomy 9:10 Then the LORD delivered to me two tablets of stone written with the finger of God, and on them were all the words which the LORD had spoken to you on the mountain from the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly. Christ's Forever, Jessi
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Post by Jessi on Jul 20, 2007 18:35:14 GMT -5
Have you ever wondered whether God left us the Bible or the Koran? The Koran says the world sits on the backs of elephants and when they walk, it causes earthquakes. So, I'm pretty sure God didn't write that. Christ's Forever, Jessi
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Post by mrleo on Jul 20, 2007 18:53:31 GMT -5
Jessi - do you believe that God wrote about a magic boat that could contain two of every species of animal on the planet and enough food to sustain them all for 40 days and 40 nights?
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Post by truetotheword on Jul 20, 2007 19:26:35 GMT -5
I asked the question to our worker today -- his response -- God only reveals it to His own through the workers. That is why no matter where you go, His children all have the same understanding. When we go into the meeting, we all have the same understanding. No one else has the true meaning other than the true friends in the meetings. I don't think God is that cruel. This makes me sick.
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Post by Jessi on Jul 20, 2007 19:27:10 GMT -5
Jessi - do you believe that God wrote about a magic boat that could contain two of every species of animal on the planet and enough food to sustain them all for 40 days and 40 nights? No. It was not a magic boat. It took 100 years for a Noah to build it. It was an Ark that carried some animals and 8 people. Perfectly believeable. The ark was mostly empty. The more I understand about Jesus Christ, the more I understand how much of the ark and what is written there on the pages of God's Word is true. The ark was a picture of Him and His remnant. His chosen few. Few there be who find the narrow gate, the Way, the Truth and the Life. The ark is symbolic of Christ as much as the rock in the wilderness from which came living water. Christ was that rock. But . . . Noah preached all the while he was building the ark and they laughed and scoffed. Those scoffers were wiped off the face of the earth. The difference between the Koran and the Bible is that the Bible tells a story that makes sense--when read in light of Christ, the Lord, who died and rose again. He is on every page. Christ's Forever, Jessi
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Post by inChristsLove on Jul 20, 2007 19:42:14 GMT -5
I don't believe that God is that cruel to only save a very few - a few from the meetings. If that is the truth, why is it dying out??? May be surprised who may be in Heaven. If only the meeting folks will be saved, then God is not filled with love and should not have sent His only begoten son to die for all.
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Post by Jessi on Jul 20, 2007 20:45:26 GMT -5
I don't believe that God is that cruel to only save a very few - a few from the meetings. If that is the truth, why is it dying out??? May be surprised who may be in Heaven. If only the meeting folks will be saved, then God is not filled with love and should not have sent His only begoten son to die for all. If these meeting folks think they are righteous and good, then Christ didn't die for them. He came to save the ungodly and the sinner. The Truth is not a group of people, but Jesus Christ. I like that--it's very true. God, all through the Bible, used the most unworthy types to fulfill His plan. Prostitutes. Thieves. Liars. We have to come to the place where we realize that there isn't anything we can contribute to our salvation . . . but our sin. Whosever will may come . . . But nothing of ourselves can save us. No group can ever carry us to heaven. Eph 2:8-9 Christ's Forever, Jessi
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Post by Gene on Jul 21, 2007 1:53:59 GMT -5
Have you ever wondered whether God left us the Bible or the Koran? The Koran says the world sits on the backs of elephants and when they walk, it causes earthquakes. So, I'm pretty sure God didn't write that. Christ's Forever, Jessi But you believe that God wrote about a virgin giving birth and about a man who died and after three days came back to life? Or is that just symbolism?
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Post by mrleo on Jul 21, 2007 2:00:22 GMT -5
Gen 6:19 "And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. Gen 6:20 "Of the birds after their kind, and of the animals after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every (kind) will come to you to keep (them) alive. Gen 6:21 "As for you, take for yourself some of all food which is edible, and gather (it) to yourself; and it shall be for food for you and for them." Gen 6:22 Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.
Really? You must be coming to that conclusion based on some information other than what is clearly provided in Genesis 6.
The notion of a boat that is magnitudes smaller than its own cargo does not make sense under any light, and is certainly no more rational or believable than the notion that the earth is sitting on the backs of elephants.
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Post by Gene on Jul 21, 2007 4:28:25 GMT -5
Then there is that messy proofreader's oversight in Genesis 7 that really screws up the math:
Gen. 7:2 Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that [are] not clean by two, the male and his female.
Gen. 7:3 Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.
Poor Noah. Glad it wasn't me. I can handle the 2x2 math, but multiplication by seven has always been a problem for me. That's why I chose to study literature rather than math.
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Post by DueDiligence on Jul 21, 2007 6:28:35 GMT -5
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Post by Brad Lewis on Jul 22, 2007 0:33:25 GMT -5
Jessi - do you believe that God wrote about a magic boat that could contain two of every species of animal on the planet and enough food to sustain them all for 40 days and 40 nights? No. It was not a magic boat. It took 100 years for a Noah to build it. It was an Ark that carried some animals and 8 people. Perfectly believeable. The ark was mostly empty. The more I understand about Jesus Christ, the more I understand how much of the ark and what is written there on the pages of God's Word is true. The ark was a picture of Him and His remnant. His chosen few. Few there be who find the narrow gate, the Way, the Truth and the Life. The ark is symbolic of Christ as much as the rock in the wilderness from which came living water. Christ was that rock. But . . . Noah preached all the while he was building the ark and they laughed and scoffed. Those scoffers were wiped off the face of the earth. The difference between the Koran and the Bible is that the Bible tells a story that makes sense--when read in light of Christ, the Lord, who died and rose again. He is on every page. Christ's Forever, Jessi Jessi, Don't let them word-switch you. Noah had 2 of every kind on the boat. Never talks about species. That word wasn't in the language then that we read of. A lot of people died in the flood. A lot of people are confused. I appreciate people who have a sound mind and believe in God and the Bible. They are the only things that make sense. Brad
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Post by selah on Jul 22, 2007 17:00:39 GMT -5
Just as a note here:
Genesis 7:2 Take with you seven of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and two of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate, and also seven of every kind of bird, male and female, to keep their various kinds alive throughout the earth.
Blessings, Linda
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Post by Jessi on Jul 22, 2007 19:33:41 GMT -5
Mrleo: Two of every kind does not mean two of 20 kinds of whatever dogs were available at the time. A dog is a dog. Probably at the time, it was a wolf. So, out of two wolves comes another wolf, which, through speciation, will adjust to the condition—grows more hair (colder climates). No mystery here. The ark was mostly empty. www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/noah.aspThe dimensions of the ark provided stability. It was not meant to be pretty, but impossible to capsize. The Hebrew word used here for the English word, ark, is “box” or chest”. It took Noah 100 yrs to build it. It was 450 ft long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high. The volume of space was 1.4 million cubic ft., the capacity of 522 standard train box cars carrying 125,000 sheep. Since the average size of land animals is less than sheep, so less than 60 percent of the space in the ark was even used. There are less than 18,000 species living on the earth today. This is a generous number, to allow for extinction of some species, like the dinosaur. Inicidentally, the larger creatures (like dinasaurs) brought on the ark were probably young—and most weren’t as huge as the bones that have been found. Most were about the size of a large kangaroo. A horse. Hippos, giraffes, not full-grown. mrleo wrote: The notion of a boat that is magnitudes smaller than its own cargo does not make sense under any light, and is certainly no more rational or believable than the notion that the earth is sitting on the backs of elephants.We absolutely know for certain the world is not sitting on the backs of elephants, but while we play the game of numbers, and do not have all the evidence, you cannot know for certain that the ark wasn’t plausible. People have made big boats. It’s possible. Your base your assumptions and faith in the math of someone who will not under any circumstance accept any sort of evidence that allows for a higher being he has to call God who will hold him accountable for his actions. Whoever it is, I wouldn’t listen to him. Gene:The extra six pair of birds and clean animals were used for sacrifice (8:20) and food (9:3). The Ark represents a picture of Christ (Who is absolutely real as His resurrection)—and his remnant. Not many wise, not many mighty are chosen. Not many will come to Jesus. He said, “I am the door”. The door of the Ark is Jesus. God closed the door Himself (Gen 7:16). Christ’s forever, Jessi
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Post by diet coke on Jul 22, 2007 20:13:00 GMT -5
Inicidentally, the larger creatures (like dinasaurs) brought on the ark were probably young—and most weren’t as huge as the bones that have been found. Dinosaurs, too, Jessi? But...but...but...
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Post by mrleo on Jul 22, 2007 21:34:30 GMT -5
I would suggest that both our assumptions about the story of the Ark are based on a lack of evidence - in your case, faith fills in where evidence is absent to make a magical story true; in my case, the lack of evidence simply tells me the story is a magical story.
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Post by selah on Jul 22, 2007 21:53:41 GMT -5
Hi Jessi,
But it was different with birds?
Genesis 7:2 Take with you seven of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and two of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate, and also seven of every kind of bird, male and female, to keep their various kinds alive throughout the earth.
oops, I just read your response to this in your post:
Blessings, Linda
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