question

[dblades]

Having Faith is the  hardest thing I know,  Israel couldn't keep it.  How we got here from a post about a launch ramp I'll never know. 

[top_dollar]

17 hours ago, Mitch f said:

2 Questions:

1. Regardless of whether you think he’s the son of God, do you believe a man named Jesus ever walked the face of the earth?

2. Would you be happy  Or sad if it would be proven someday that there was indeed a Judeo Christian God? 

             I know this wasn't for me, but I do think he probably did exist, and I do think that living your life, using the teachings of Jesus Christ as a moral guide is a great way to live.  My mother is Lutheran and I was brought up that way.  I remember the whole WWJD thing, and I firmly believe that if more people acted like that (myself included), the world would be a much better place.

           I also think id be happy if I found out that there was eternal life, but id definitely have a few questions for the big guy regarding his omnipotence/benevolence.  That is really the main thing that keeps me from having faith.  I never understood that, if god is all good, and all powerful, why do bad things happen to good people?  I have concluded that god is either not there, not good, or not powerful.  Personally at this point in my life i haven't seen any evidence that a personal god exists so I lean towards the "not there" argument.  That, and the fact that nothing supernatural has ever happened to me.  I suppose if Jesus walked into my room and did a sweet magic trick id be compelled to believe.  That, or if I caught a 5# smallmouth I may just convert.

 

[Mitch f]

37 minutes ago, top_dollar said:

             I know this wasn't for me, but I do think he probably did exist, and I do think that living your life, using the teachings of Jesus Christ as a moral guide is a great way to live.  My mother is Lutheran and I was brought up that way.  I remember the whole WWJD thing, and I firmly believe that if more people acted like that (myself included), the world would be a much better place.

           I also think id be happy if I found out that there was eternal life, but id definitely have a few questions for the big guy regarding his omnipotence/benevolence.  That is really the main thing that keeps me from having faith.  I never understood that, if god is all good, and all powerful, why do bad things happen to good people?  I have concluded that god is either not there, not good, or not powerful.  Personally at this point in my life i haven't seen any evidence that a personal god exists so I lean towards the "not there" argument.  That, and the fact that nothing supernatural has ever happened to me.  I suppose if Jesus walked into my room and did a sweet magic trick id be compelled to believe.  That, or if I caught a 5# smallmouth I may just convert.

 

Fair enough, was just curious. 
As far as the 5 pounder, all I’m going to say is you have to use common sense and also try to think outside the box 📦 

[top_dollar]

24 minutes ago, Mitch f said:

As far as the 5 pounder, all I’m going to say is you have to use common sense and also try to think outside the box 📦 

So no 5 pounders for me. 🤣🤣

[Flysmallie]

I guess I got lucky with my kids. They are skeptical about everything. Have to do their own research. Do they always come to the same conclusion I would? Hell No. But at least they come up with their own opinions. Some are easily swayed that is correct. That's why we have a heroin problem.

Gods? Nobody knows. Nobody. But you should be left to believe what you want. Unfortunately some people want to kill you for what you believe. I have no idea why it matters. If you want to believe something I have to either be able to prove it's not true or not give an F. And I don't give an F a lot. 

You know what's better than a 5lb smallmouth? A 6lb smallmouth. But I'll take a half-dozen of either. 

[bobby b.]

22 hours ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

Didn’t work on me😆

It did work for me and my sister and almost for my 5 kids.  But my 5 kids met somebody else in their college days and kinda veered off course from their Catholic faith - still good kids - in fact second oldest daughter is going to give a kidney to her older sister's father-in-law (the blood relatives were not interested) on December 30.  Older sister tried first but was medically rejected as a donor.  Prayers for her and him would be appreciated.

[Guest]

5 hours ago, top_dollar said:

             I know this wasn't for me, but I do think he probably did exist, and I do think that living your life, using the teachings of Jesus Christ as a moral guide is a great way to live.  My mother is Lutheran and I was brought up that way.  I remember the whole WWJD thing, and I firmly believe that if more people acted like that (myself included), the world would be a much better place.

           I also think id be happy if I found out that there was eternal life, but id definitely have a few questions for the big guy regarding his omnipotence/benevolence.  That is really the main thing that keeps me from having faith.  I never understood that, if god is all good, and all powerful, why do bad things happen to good people?  I have concluded that god is either not there, not good, or not powerful.  Personally at this point in my life i haven't seen any evidence that a personal god exists so I lean towards the "not there" argument.  That, and the fact that nothing supernatural has ever happened to me.  I suppose if Jesus walked into my room and did a sweet magic trick id be compelled to believe.  That, or if I caught a 5# smallmouth I may just convert.

 

we were never promised an easy life.  we are hear to learn, gain knowledge and wisdom, and to try as best we can to like Christ.  learn to have that pure charity of heart.  each trial we go through is for us to learn from.  it is either to help us individually or to enable us to help someone else going through that same trial.  the only way back home is through Christ.  all of our choices will have a consequence of some kind.  always choose the right, and it will help any of us to stay on that straight and narrow path.

as far as supernatural happening in your life, maybe you have had but never recognized it.  just a unintentioned meeting with someone can be your supernatural meeting, or something that someone says.  being in tune with the Spirit helps in knowing when those moments have happened.  i would guess that most never really recognize when a special blessing is given to them.  they come at any time from anyone.  one can pray about something and sometimes you get the answer in your head, but most often, it comes in many other ways.  when one exercises faith, it will then begin to strengthen one's testimony.  reading your scriptures is a great place to start.

bo

[Guest]

6 hours ago, dblades said:

Having Faith is the  hardest thing I know,  Israel couldn't keep it.  How we got here from a post about a launch ramp I'll never know. 

God has his way of getting things done.  maybe this will bring someone to Christ.  it is at least planting a seed.

bo

[bobby b.]

6 hours ago, top_dollar said:

I suppose if Jesus walked into my room and did a sweet magic trick id be compelled to believe.

There are lots of miracles throughout history to prove the existence of God and his Son.  For current dat skeptics, I like to point to recent miracles that were investigated by modern science.  Here's one - check out the story of Padre Pio, died in 1968 - carried the stigmata (marks of Christ on his hands and feet) most of his life - the wounds were examined by lots of doctors and scientist with no explanation found.  St Francis (12 century) was the first to carry the stigmata.  

[fishinwrench]

42 minutes ago, bobby b. said:

check out the story of Padre Pio, died in 1968 - carried the stigmata (marks of Christ on his hands and feet) most of his life - the wounds were examined by lots of doctors and scientist with no explanation found. 

 I have a possible explanation....Suppose Padre's parents, since they were poor and could do nothing else for him, disfigured him in that way in hopes that he would be admired and treated special.    The operation was a success.....for "most of his life".

No words from God mention his placement of marks on anyone other than the Antichrist, so it is somewhat unjust to blame him for the marks on Padre, or anyone else.   One would think that marks placed by God would be everlasting, no?